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Evaluation of optimal voltage-sensitive dyes for optical monitoring of embryonic neural activity

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Abstract

To evaluate the suitability of a variety of fast voltage-sensitive dyes for optical recording of rapid transmembrane potential activity in the embryonic nervous system, we screened over twenty dyes, including several newly synthesized probes, in three different embryonic neural preparations: cervical vagus nerve bundle, nodose ganglion, and brainstem from 7-day old chick embryos. Measurements of voltage-related optical signals were made using a multiple-site optical recordingsystem. Signal size, signal-to-noise ratio, photobleaching, and phototoxicity were examined. Several promising new merocyanine-rhodanine dyes for embryonic nervous systems were found.

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We thank Larry Cohen and Brian Salzberg for critical reading of the manuscript and for helpful suggestions and comments. We are grateful to Dr. Shigeo Yasui of Nippon Kankoh-Shikiso Kenkyusho for his cooperation in synthesizing new dyes. Supported in part by Grants from MESC of Japan, the Mitsubishi Foundation, the Uehara Memorial Life Science Foundation and Mochida Memorial Medical and Pharmaceutical Foundation.

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Momose-Sato, Y., Sato, K., Sakai, T. et al. Evaluation of optimal voltage-sensitive dyes for optical monitoring of embryonic neural activity. J. Membarin Biol. 144, 167–176 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232802

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00232802

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