Real‐time Monitoring of Discrete Synaptic Release Events and Excitatory Potentials within Self‐reconstructed Neuromuscular Junctions

Abstract

Chemical synaptic transmission is central to the brain functions.I nt his regard, real-time monitoring of chemical synaptic transmission during neuronal communication remains ag reat challenge.I nt his work, in vivo-like oriented neural networks between superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons and their effector smooth muscle cells (SMC) were assembled in am icrofluidic device.T his allowed amperometric detection of individual neurotransmitter release events inside functional SCG-SMC synapse with carbon fiber nanoelectrodes as well as recording of postsynaptic potential using glass nanopipette electrodes.T he high vesicular release activities essentially involved complex events arising from flickering fusion pores as quantitatively established based on simulations.T his work allowed for the first time monitoring in situ chemical synaptic transmission under conditions close to those found in vivo,w hich may yield important and new insights into the nature of neuronal communications.

Harpagide Inhibits Microglial Activation and Protects Dopaminergic Neurons as Revealed by Nanoelectrode Amperometry†

“…terminals in co‐cultured system. For amperometric detection with high temporal‐spatial resolution being suitable for exocytosis monitor in synaptic cleft as reported before, [ 23,36‐37 ] a CFNE was inserted into DAergic synaptic cleft (Figure 1A). The amperometric traces recorded with CFNEs during high K + ‐elicited are exhibited in Figure 4A, where spikes represent single exocytotic events elicited.…”

Breaking Barriers: Exploring Neurotransmitters through In Vivo vs. In Vitro Rivalry

“…For studies focused on neurotransmitters, the integration of LoC and OoC technologies emerges as highly favorable. These hybrid platforms (integrating LoCs with OoCs on the same platform) enable researchers to cultivate precise conditions and harness specific neurons vital to their analyses, all within a controlled and replicable environment [ 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 ]. The ability to embed or implant probes for neurotransmitter measurements is greatly facilitated, owing to the comprehensively regulated parameters that characterize these platforms, an achievement that remains difficult in traditional in vivo investigations.…”

Reconstructing Soma–Soma Synapse-like Vesicular Exocytosis with DNA Origami

“… 13 As an alternative, researchers have used microfluidic channels to spatially separate the soma and elongated axons to control the direction of axon elongation. 14 , 15 The spontaneous oriented elongation of neurons along the microfluidic channel could form ordered neuromuscular junctions, greatly improving the regularity of intercellular junctions. However, replication of nature-evolved processes to engineer the controllable soma–soma synapse-like junction in vitro has remained elusive until now.…”