Photolysis of Nicotine to Probe Acetylcholine Receptor Function | Protocol Preview

Probing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in Mouse Brain Slices via Laser Flash Photolysis of Photoactivatable Nicotine - a 2 minute Preview of the Experimental Protocol

Matthew C. Arvin, David L. Wokosin, Sambashiva Banala, Luke D. Lavis, Ryan M. Drenan
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Physiology; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Research Campus;

This article presents a method for studying nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mouse brain slices by nicotine uncaging. When coupled with simultaneous patch clamp recording and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy, nicotine uncaging connects nicotinic receptor function with cellular morphology, providing a deeper understanding of cholinergic neurobiology.

JoVE is the world-leading producer and provider of science videos with the mission to improve scientific research and education. Millions of scientists, educators, and students at 1500+ institutions worldwide, including schools like Harvard, MIT and Stanford benefit from using JoVE's extensive library of 14,000+ videos in their research,education and teaching.