Modular double sucrose gap apparatus for improved recording of compound action potentials from rat and mouse spinal cord white matter preparations. 2010

Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Canada.

Compound action potential (CAP) recording is a powerful tool for studying the conduction properties and pharmacology of axons in multi-axonal preparations. The sucrose gap technique improves CAP recording by replacing the extracellular solution between the recording electrodes with a non-conductive sucrose solution to minimize extracellular shunting. The double sucrose gap (DSG), conferring similar advantages at the stimulation site, has been extensively used on guinea pig spinal cord white matter (WM) in vitro. Establishing the DSG methodology for WM preparations from smaller animals such as rats and mice is appealing due to their extensive use in basic and translationally oriented research. Here we describe a versatile modular DSG apparatus with rubber membrane separation of the compartments, suitable for WM strips from rat and mouse spinal cord. The small volumes of compartments (<0.1 ml) and the air-tight design allow perfusion rates of 0.5-1 ml/min with faster refreshment rates compared to commonly used 2-3 ml/min and larger compartments, providing economical usage of expensive pharmacological drugs. Our improved DSG design is particularly efficient for uncovering slower conducting, higher threshold CAP components, as demonstrated by recordings of C-wave (non-myelinated axons) in rat dorsal WM. In myelin-deficient Shiverer mice with genetically dysmyelinated axons, our DSG apparatus recordings revealed a multi-peak C-wave without preceding faster components. The improved stimulation and recording with our DSG apparatus, lowering the range of required stimulus intensities and reducing the artifact interference with recorded CAPs provide for critical technical advantages that allow for more detailed analysis of CAPs in relatively short preparations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008822 Mice, Transgenic Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D008839 Microelectrodes Electrodes with an extremely small tip, used in a voltage clamp or other apparatus to stimulate or record bioelectric potentials of single cells intracellularly or extracellularly. (Dorland, 28th ed) Electrodes, Miniaturized,Electrode, Miniaturized,Microelectrode,Miniaturized Electrode,Miniaturized Electrodes
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005110 Extracellular Space Interstitial space between cells, occupied by INTERSTITIAL FLUID as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. For organisms with a CELL WALL, the extracellular space includes everything outside of the CELL MEMBRANE including the PERIPLASM and the cell wall. Intercellular Space,Extracellular Spaces,Intercellular Spaces,Space, Extracellular,Space, Intercellular,Spaces, Extracellular,Spaces, Intercellular
D005947 Glucose A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement. Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000388 Air The mixture of gases present in the earth's atmosphere consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013116 Spinal Cord A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER. Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords

Related Publications

Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
April 1975, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C: Comparative pharmacology,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
January 2013, Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
July 1985, Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology],
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
February 1972, Nihon seirigaku zasshi. Journal of the Physiological Society of Japan,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
January 1948, The American journal of psychology,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
October 1981, Brain research,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
January 2020, Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
December 1990, Journal of spinal disorders,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
August 1969, Nihon seirigaku zasshi. Journal of the Physiological Society of Japan,
Alexander A Velumian, and Yudi Wan, and Marina Samoilova, and Michael G Fehlings
July 2023, Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society,
Copied contents to your clipboard!