Multidisciplinary Tools for Investigating Synaptic Plasticity, 2013 Neuromethods Series, Vol. 81

Investigations involving incisive mechanistic dissection of various types of synaptic plasticity have revealed that it plays key roles in neural development, sensory information processing, cortical remapping following brain injury, perception, and behavioral learning and memory. Disruptions of synaptic plasticity may underlie neurological and behavioral disorders such as Alzheimer disease, Fragile-X syndrome,  autism, and drug addiction. Multidisciplinary Tools for Investigating Synaptic Plasticity, therefore, assembles expert contributions that highlight techniques and strategies used in probing the cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the nervous systems of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Divided into three sections, this meticulous volume describes biochemical and genetic strategies for studying synaptic plasticity, behavior, neural development, and synaptogenesis, and also includes cellular electrophysiological and optical methods for interrogating a diverse array of mechanistic issues. As part of the Neuromethods series, this book contains the kind of detail and key implementation advice that maximizes successful results.

Authoritative and invaluable, Multidisciplinary Tools for Investigating Synaptic Plasticity serves as an ideal primer for introducing researchers to specific techniques that will enhance their success at addressing novel questions in synaptic plasticity at the lab bench.

Part I: Biochemical and Genetic Strategies for Probing Synaptic Plasticity and Behavior

1. Conditional Gene Targeting: A Refined Method for Genetic Studies in Neurosciences

            Jane Beil, Isabelle M. Mansuy, and Thorsten Buch

2. Sindbis Virus-MediatedIn Vivo Expression of Recombinant CREB to Study Gene Function in Neuronal Plasticity and Behavior

            Hélène Marie

3. Exploring Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity Using Exogenous Expression of Proteins at the Sensory-to-Motor Neuron Synapse of Aplysia

            Daniel B. Weatherill, Tyler W. Dunn, Patrick K. McCamphill, and Wayne S. Sossin

4. Translational Regulation of Synaptic Plasticity

            Emanuela Santini, Eric Klann, and Charles Hoeffer

Part II: Synaptic Development and Neurogenesis

5. Glutamate Receptors and Synaptic Physiology in Developing Neural Circuits

            Declan W. Ali, Marcus E. Cunningham, and Birbickram Roy

6. Laminar Quantification of Dendrites in Dentate Gyrus Granule Neurons

            Shira Rosenzweig and J. Martin Wojtowicz

Part III: Electrophysiological and Optical Interrogation of Synaptic Physiology in Brain Slices and Dissociated Cell Preparations

7. Electrophysiological and Biochemical Studies of AMPA Receptor Phosphorylation and Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal CA1 Mini-Slices

            Erin E. Gray and Thomas J. O’Dell

8. Electrophysiological and Behavioral Approaches to the Analysis of Synaptic Tagging and Capture

            Roger Redondo and Richard G.M. Morris

9. Intracellular Loading and Rapid Calcium Imaging in Processes of Hippocampal Astrocytes

            Aude Panatier and Richard Robitaille

10. Electrophysiological Methods for Investigating Inhibitory Synaptic Plasticity

            Melanie A. Woodin

11. Converging Methodologies in a Mammalian ‘Simple System’ Focused on the Biology of Memory: Conditioned Odor Preference in the Neonate Rat

            Qi Yuan, Carolyn W. Harley, and John H. McLean

12. The Sagittally-Sectioned Rat Hindbrain Preparation: Improved Access to the Brainstem Respiratory Network

            Nicholas M. Mellen and Gregory D. Funk

Includes clear, reproducible techniques that are proven in the field

Presents research on synaptic mechanisms of brain function as well as clinically-relevant strategies for preventing and alleviating neurological and psychiatric disorders

Features tips and key implementation advice from experts

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras