Voltage-sensitive dye imaging during functional development of the embryonic nervous system: a brief review with special thanks to Professor Larry Cohen.

Yoko Momose-Sato,Katsushige Sato

doi:10.1117/1.nph.2.2.021009

Yoko Momose-Sato, Katsushige Sato

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1117/1.nph.2.2.021009

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Abstract

Investigating the developmental organization of the embryonic nervous system is one of the major challenges in the field of neuroscience. Despite their significance, functional studies on the vertebrate embryonic central nervous system (CNS) have been hampered by the technical limitations associated with conventional electrophysiological methods. The advent of optical techniques using voltage-sensitive dyes, which were developed by Dr. Cohen and his colleagues, has enabled electrical activity in living cells to be monitored noninvasively and also facilitated the simultaneous recording of neural responses from multiple regions. Using optical recording techniques, it is now possible to follow the functional organization of the embryonic CNS and image the spatiotemporal dynamics involved in the formation of this neural network. We herein briefly reviewed optical studies on the embryonic CNS with a special emphasis on methodological considerations and the study of neuronal circuit formation, which demonstrates the utility of fast voltage-sensitive dye imaging as a powerful tool for elucidating the functional organization of the embryonic CNS.

Highlights

Investigating the developmental organization of the embryonic central nervous system (CNS) is one of the major challenges in the field of neuroscience
Functional studies on the embryonic CNS have been hampered by the technical limitations associated with conventional electrophysiological methods
Optical imaging with voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) has enabled the functional organization of the embryonic nervous system to be monitored and the spatiotemporal dynamics involved in the formation of this neural network to be imaged

Summary

Introduction

Investigating the developmental organization of the embryonic central nervous system (CNS) is one of the major challenges in the field of neuroscience. Optical imaging with voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) has enabled the functional organization of the embryonic nervous system to be monitored and the spatiotemporal dynamics involved in the formation of this neural network to be imaged. This powerful technique was designed and developed by Dr Cohen and his colleagues at Yale University and the Marine Biological Laboratory, and has been applied to various preparations from invertebrates to vertebrates The detection of transmembrane voltage changes from embryonic excitable cells, e.g., cardiac cells and neurons, with VSDs was initially achieved by Dr Kamino and his colleagues in Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Technical Considerations

Application to the Study of Neuronal Circuit Formation

Application to the Study of Correlated Wave Activity

Conclusion