Abstract
Connectivity among different brain regions has been studied since the original neuronal descriptions by Santiago Ramón y Cajal. Ultimately, only evidence of synapse proves actual connectivity between neurons originating from different brain regions. This report focuses on technical aspects of anterograde neuroanatomical tract tracing combined with immunohistochemical methods specific for ultrastructural analysis of neuronal contacts, synapses. Specifically, this technique combines peroxidase labeling of the anterograde tracer, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA 10 kDa) with immunoperoxidase-silver enhancement detection of a neuroactive substance present in the structures postsynaptic to tracer-labeled axon terminals. This technique is widely utilized to identify neuronal circuits as well as the neurochemical content of neurons that are implicated in incredibly complex and dynamic tasks. In this report we discuss technical steps in detail, as well as the technique’s advantages and limitations.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
The secondary antibody used in our experiments that visualized catecholamine neurons was goat anti-mouse secondary antibody conjugated to 1 nm gold particle (Auro Probe One GAM; RPN 471; Amersham Corp., Arlington Heights, IL) diluted 1:50 with the blocking solution.
Abbreviations
- ABC:
-
Avidin–biotin complex
- BDA:
-
Biotinylated dextran amine
- BSA:
-
Bovine serum albumin
- DAB:
-
Diaminobenzidine
- HRP:
-
Horseradish peroxidase
- OsO4 :
-
Osmium tetroxide
- PB:
-
Phosphate buffer
- PBS:
-
Phosphate buffer saline
- TBS:
-
Tris-buffered saline
- TH:
-
Tyrosine hydroxylase
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by (1) USPHS Grant DAO3980 from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to Dr. Herbert K. Proudfit; (2) grants ANA#96002249 and NIDA 09082 to Dr. Elisabeth J. Van Bockstaele; as well as the (3) National Institutes of Health R03 DA030874 grant to Dr. Dusica Bajic.
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Bajic, D. (2016). Combining Anterograde Tracing and Immunohistochemistry to Define Neuronal Synaptic Circuits. In: Van Bockstaele, E. (eds) Transmission Electron Microscopy Methods for Understanding the Brain. Neuromethods, vol 115. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7657_2015_81
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7657_2015_81
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