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Investigation of analog modulation of action-potential waveforms using simultaneous whole-cell patch clamp and high-density microelectrode arrays
Modulation of sub-threshold membrane potentials of primary hippocampal neurons to investigate the effect of such manipulations on the action potential propagation along the axon by coupling whole-cell patch clamp recordings and high-density microelectrode array technologies.
Analog-digital facilitation (ADF) is a type of short-term plasticity, where the subthreshold membrane potential in the presynaptic element enhances the spike-evoked synaptic response. Most cases of ADF have been induced by long subthreshold depolarizations of the soma, while in few cases, transient hyperpolarization has been evoked immediately before the action potential (AP). In both cases, somatic membrane fluctuations modulate the biophysical properties of voltage-gated ion channels causing changes in the AP waveform. However, it is still unknown, whether the modulation of the AP waveform changes with increasing distance from the soma, and whether such modulation affects the velocity of AP propagation.
Analog-digital facilitation (ADF) is a type of short-term plasticity, where the subthreshold membrane potential in the presynaptic element enhances the spike-evoked synaptic response. Most cases of ADF have been induced by long subthreshold depolarizations of the soma, while in few cases, transient hyperpolarization has been evoked immediately before the action potential (AP). In both cases, somatic membrane fluctuations modulate the biophysical properties of voltage-gated ion channels causing changes in the AP waveform. However, it is still unknown, whether the modulation of the AP waveform changes with increasing distance from the soma, and whether such modulation affects the velocity of AP propagation.
High-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEAs) allow sampling of action potentials at multiple sites simultaneously, thus providing valuable information on how action potential evolves during propagation along the axon. Coupling HD-MEAs with patch-clamp recordings allows us to achieve subthreshold depolarization or hyperpolarization of presynaptic cell and trace the effect of such manipulations on the action potential propagation along the axon.
The candidate should be motivated to work in inter-disciplinary environment, with a profound background in biology. Good programming skill in matlab is desirable.
High-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEAs) allow sampling of action potentials at multiple sites simultaneously, thus providing valuable information on how action potential evolves during propagation along the axon. Coupling HD-MEAs with patch-clamp recordings allows us to achieve subthreshold depolarization or hyperpolarization of presynaptic cell and trace the effect of such manipulations on the action potential propagation along the axon.
The candidate should be motivated to work in inter-disciplinary environment, with a profound background in biology. Good programming skill in matlab is desirable.