Skip to main content

Microiontophoretic Study of Individual Neurons During Intracellular Recording

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Stimulation and Inhibition of Neurons

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 78))

  • 1280 Accesses

Abstract

There is an increasing tendency to combine multidisciplinary methods in studying the central nervous systems. One recently developed technique is the combination of electrophysiological and pharmacological investigations by making intracellular recording during extracellular iontophoresis of drugs to study the effects of neurotransmitters on neuronal activity and connections. In this chapter, we describe this technique in detail.

We show how:

  1. 1.

    Electrodes are made for this type of study.

  2. 2.

    Drug solutions are prepared for current iontophoresis.

  3. 3.

    A microiontophoresis current generator is used to iontophoretically inject drugs onto a neuron while performing intracellular recording.

At the end of this chapter, we provide an example from our recent studies that uses this iontophoretic technique to study effect of counter-intuitive inhibitory effect of blocking GABAA receptors in the control of post-inspiratory activity of the expiratory laryngeal motoneurons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kaczynska K, Szereda-Przestaszewska M (2006) Clonidine-evoked respiratory effects in anaesthetized rats. Exp Physiol 91:269–275

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ulger F, Bozkurt A, Bilge SS, Ilkaya F, Dilek A, Bostanci MO, Ciftcioglu E, Guldogus F (2009) The antinociceptive effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine in colorectal distension-induced visceral pain in rats: the role of opioid receptors. Anesth Analg 109:616–622

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Pilowsky PM, Abbott SB, Burke PG, Farnham MM, Hildreth CM, Kumar NN, Li Q, Lonergan T, McMullan S, Spirovski D, Goodchild AK (2008) Metabotropic neurotransmission and integration of sympathetic nerve activity by the rostral ventrolateral medulla in the rat. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 35:508–511

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sun QJ, Bautista TG, Berkowitz RG, Zhao WJ, Pilowsky PM (2011) The temporal relationship between non-respiratory burst activity of expiratory laryngeal motoneurons and phrenic apnoea during stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve in rat. J Physiol 589:1819–1830

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Curtis DR, Duggan AW, Felix D, Johnston GA (1971) Bicuculline, an antagonist of GABA and synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord of the cat. Brain Res 32:69–96

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Haji A, Pierrefiche O, Foutz AS, Champagnat J, Denavit-Saubie M, Takeda R (1996) Pharmacological properties of peripherally induced postsynaptic potentials in bulbar respiratory neurons of decerebrate cats. Neurosci Lett 211:17–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Berkowitz RG, Sun QJ, Pilowsky PM (2005) Congenital bilateral vocal cord paralysis and the role of glycine. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 114:494–498

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dogas Z, Krolo M, Stuth EA, Tonkovic-Capin M, Hopp FA, McCrimmon DR, Zuperku EJ (1998) Differential effects of GABAA receptor antagonists in the control of respiratory neuronal discharge patterns. J Neurophysiol 80:2368–2377

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sun QJ, Berkowitz RG, Pilowsky PM (2008) GABA A mediated inhibition and post-inspiratory pattern of laryngeal constrictor motoneurons in rat. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 162:41–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schmid K, Bohmer G, Gebauer K (1991) GABAA receptor mediated fast synaptic inhibition in the rabbit brain-stem respiratory system. Acta Physiol Scand 142:411–420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. McCrimmon DR, Zuperku EJ, Hayashi F, Dogas Z, Hinrichsen CF, Stuth EA, Tonkovic-Capin M, Krolo M, Hopp FA (1997) Modulation of the synaptic drive to respiratory premotor and motor neurons. Respir Physiol 110:161–176

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Onimaru H, Arata A, Homma I (1990) Inhibitory synaptic inputs to the respiratory rhythm generator in the medulla isolated from newborn rats. Pflugers Arch 417:425–432

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ramirez JM, Telgkamp P, Elsen FP, Quellmalz UJ, Richter DW (1997) Respiratory rhythm generation in mammals: synaptic and membrane properties. Respir Physiol 110:71–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Barillot JC, Grelot L, Reddad S, Bianchi AL (1990) Discharge patterns of laryngeal motoneurones in the cat: an intracellular study. Brain Res 509:99–106

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gauthier P, Hilaire G, Monteau R (1983) Onset and control of expiratory laryngeal discharge: cross-correlation analysis. Respir Physiol 54:67–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qi-Jian Sun .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Sun, QJ., Pilowsky, P.M. (2013). Microiontophoretic Study of Individual Neurons During Intracellular Recording. In: Pilowsky, P., Farnham, M., Fong, A. (eds) Stimulation and Inhibition of Neurons. Neuromethods, vol 78. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-233-9_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-233-9_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-232-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-233-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics