A Novel Fluorescent Tracer for Visualizing Coupled Cells in Neural Circuits of Living Tissue

Hideo Hoshi ¹, John O’Brien ¹ and Stephen L. Mills ^1*

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Texas at Houston - Health Science Center, Houston, Texas

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Stephen.L.Mills{at}uth.tmc.edu .

Submitted on January 30, 2006
Accepted on 12 July 2006

	Abstract

Gap junctions have diverse roles in a wide variety of tissues and have recently become a subject of intense investigation in neural circuits where synchrony and oscillations may play an important part. In circuits where gap junctions are present, the possibility arises of identifying intercommunicating cells via introduction of tracer into one cell and observing its spread into its coupled neighbors. Staining the coupled cells by this means opens the door to many vital techniques, including paired cell electrophysiology, RT-PCR, and morphological characterization of previously unknown coupled cells. The tracers commonly used at the present time are not in general suitable for these purposes in many tissues, including neurons. This paper describes how a fluorescent nuclear tracer, Po-pro-1, can be used to visualize coupled cells in several types of retinal neurons thought to be comprised of different connexin proteins, including Cx36, Cx45, Cx50 and Cx57.

Key Words: gap junction, connexin, electrical coupling, retina

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