FURI | Spring 2022

Transfecting B35 Neuroblastoma Cells with Optogenetic Protein for Micropipette Excitation

Subthreshold events are essential because they provide the foundation for neuroplasticity, adjusting the likelihood of reaching an action potential threshold. These events may be visualized on a microscope platform with voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs). VSDs are often employed for cortex level changes, however, this ignores local cellular activity. A fluorescence-guided micropipette electrode can be utilized to target specific neurons for higher resolution experiments. The overall purpose of this study is to show how VSDs may be used to visualize subthreshold events in localized regions of the brain.