AsianScientist (Nov. 5, 2014) – Scientists from the University of Tokyo, including Associate Professor Takanori Ichiki and Professor Haruo Kasai, have developed an implantable micro-optical fluidic device that allows the long term observation of neural cells in vivo.
Dubbed “Lab-on-a-brain”, the device has helped researchers achieve long-term and high-resolution observation of the fine structures of neurons by two-photon laser scanning microscopy over a period of 53 days.
Furthermore, the implantable microdevice also facilitates the microfluidic delivery of chemicals or drugs directly into the brain. The experimental “lab-on-a-brain” platform is expected to contribute to the advancement of neuroscience and neurological medicine.
The analysis of neurons in the brain of a living animal is important for understanding brain functions and diseases. However, careless experimental technique during operations such as direct drug injection into the brain can lead to degradation of the native functions of neural cells.
To solve these problems, the research group developed a novel experimental platform, where the intact brain of a living mouse can be studied with the aid of a surgically implanted micro-optical fluidic device acting as an interface between neurons and the outer world.
The device comprises a glass window for observation and a reagent channel as thin as a hair. Using this device, the research group succeeded in long-term tracking of the same dendritic spines by two-photon laser scanning microscopy over a period of more than a month. Moreover, using the new device, the research group introduced a photodissociable reagent into the brain then used the laser to repeatedly cause the reagent to dissociate and activate, stimulating synapse plasticity.
By applying such stimulations, the group was able to induce shape change, an indicator of synapse strength, of an arbitrarily chosen dendritic spine and observe the shrinkage over subsequent days.
The present technology is expected to contribute to the advancement of neuroscience and neurological medicine by clarifying higher brain functions such as memory and learning and dysfunctions and diseases of the brain such as schizophrenia and manic depression.
The article can be found at: Takehara et al. (2014) Lab-on-a-Brain: Implantable Micro-Optical Fluidic Devices for Neural Cell Analysis In Vivo.
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Source: University of Tokyo.
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