Confocal and multiphoton calcium imaging of the enteric nervous system in anesthetized mice

Publication date: Available online 18 February 2019Source: Neuroscience ResearchAuthor(s): Yuki Motegi, Masaaki Sato, Kazuhide Horiguchi, Masamichi Ohkura, Keiko Gengyo-Ando, Yuji Ikegaya, Yasuyuki Fusamae, Yoshie Hongo, Minoru Suzuki, Koichi Ogawa, Miyako Takaki, Junichi NakaiAbstractMost imaging studies of the enteric nervous system (ENS) that regulates the function of the gastrointestinal tract are so far performed using preparations isolated from animals, thus hindering the understanding of the ENS function in vivo. Here we report a method for imaging the ENS cellular network activity in living mice using a new transgenic mouse line that co-expresses G-CaMP6 and mCherry in the ENS combined with the suction-mediated stabilization of intestinal movements. With confocal or two-photon imaging, our method can visualize spontaneous and pharmacologically-evoked ENS network activity in living animals at cellular and subcellular resolutions, demonstrating the potential usefulness for studies of the ENS function in health and disease.
Source: Neuroscience Research - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research