A novel electrode-pipette design for simultaneous recording of extracellular spikes and iontophoretic drug application in awake behaving monkeys - PubMed (original) (raw)

A novel electrode-pipette design for simultaneous recording of extracellular spikes and iontophoretic drug application in awake behaving monkeys

A Thiele et al. J Neurosci Methods. 2006.

Abstract

We developed a novel design of an electrode-pipette combination (EPC) which allows access to brain structures in awake behaving primates without the need for guide tubes or to mechanically open the dura prior to electrode insertion. The EPC consists of an etched tungsten in glass electrode flanked by two pipettes which allow for local and highly controlled iontophoretic administration of neuroactive substances. These EPCs have excellent single cell isolation properties and are sturdy enough to penetrate the primate dura for up to 8 weeks following either a craniotomy or a dura scrape (i.e. even after substantial built up of fibrous scar tissue). We show that the EPCs can be used to selectively manipulate the cholinergic system in primate V1 during passive fixation and while animals perform an attentionally demanding task.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Manufacture and photograph of standard electrode–pipette combination, and spike isolation. (A) Shape of glass barrels. (B)–(D) Sketches of electrode–pipette manufacture. (E) Electrode–pipette combination following placement in the Narishige PE-21 puller, prior to pulling. (F) Photograph of electrode–pipette combination after pulling and grinding. The central sharpened tungsten in glass wire is flanked by two pipettes. Following the pulling process the tungsten wire and the pipettes are ground to form a conical shape, thereby opening the pipettes and sharpening the tip to allow for passage of the dura during chronic recordings in awake behaving monkeys. (G) Waveforms of isolated spikes from a recording session during which scopolamine was applied. During this session two single units (red and green) and one multi unit (blue) were distinguishable.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Neuronal activity of a V1 neuron in the passively viewing monkey while ACh was not applied (black curves) and while ACH was applied (grey curves). A stimulus of optimal size and orientation was presented for 500 ms. Back solid line: activity during the initial recording, grey solid line: activity during ACh application, black dashed line: activity following recovery from ACh application.

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

(A) Reduction of activity in a V1 neuron upon scopolamine application. (B) Three repetitions of the pattern: neuronal activity recorded without scopolamine application (−10 nA hold current, black curves), followed by scopolamine application (20 nA application current, grey curves) were performed, resulting in three interleaved sets of scopolamine not applied and scopolamine applied recordings. Black bars show mean and standard deviation of the activity during stimulus presentation (500 ms) in the absence of scopolamine application, gray bars the activity in the presence of scopolamine application. Each repetition contained 10 trials.

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