Abstract
Optical recording that provides both anatomical and physiological data has become an essential research technique for neuroethological studies. In particular, Ca2+ imaging is one of the most popular and useful methods for visualization of spatiotemporal dynamics of neuronal activity. Because Ca2+ is involved in so many fundamental neuronal signaling functions, including transmitter release and induction of synaptic plasticity, Ca2+ imaging can yield information that is crucial for a thorough understanding of these processes. In this chapter, we summarize aspects of Ca2+-sensitive dyes that must be considered during the selection of an appropriate indicator for the specific question being investigated. We also discuss the development of dye-loading protocols, experimental designs, and optical system configurations that are required to enable the effective use of these Ca2+-sensitive indicators. As an example application, we demonstrate how Ca2+ imaging of the cricket cercal sensory system in vivo has enabled us to monitor pre- and postsynaptic activity simultaneously on specific dendrites of an identified neuron.
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Ogawa, H., Miller, J.P. (2013). In Vivo Ca2+ Imaging of Neuronal Activity. In: Ogawa, H., Oka, K. (eds) Methods in Neuroethological Research. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54331-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54331-2_5
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