Richard J. Krauzlis, Nick Nichols, Krsna V. Rangarajan, Kerry McAlonan, Sheridan Goldstein, Daniel Yochelson, Lupeng Wang
{"title":"Visual Psychophysics in Head-Fixed Mice","authors":"Richard J. Krauzlis, Nick Nichols, Krsna V. Rangarajan, Kerry McAlonan, Sheridan Goldstein, Daniel Yochelson, Lupeng Wang","doi":"10.1002/cpns.95","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cpns.95","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We describe a set of protocols for doing visual psychophysical experiments in head-fixed mice. The goal of this approach was to conduct in mice the same type of precise and well-controlled tests of visual perception and decision making as is commonly done in primates. For example, these experimental protocols were the basis for our demonstration that mice are capable of visual selective attention in paradigms adapted from classic attention cueing paradigms in primates. Basic Protocol 1 describes how to construct the experimental apparatus, including the removable wheel assembly on which the mice run during the visual tasks, the lick spout used to deliver rewards and detect licks, and the behavioral box that places these components together with the visual displays. We also describe the functions of the computerized control system and the design of the customized head fixture. Basic Protocol 2 describes the preparation of mice for the experiments, including the detailed surgical steps. Basic Protocol 3 describes the transition to a food schedule for the mice and how to operate the experimental apparatus. Basic Protocol 4 outlines the logic of the task design and the steps necessary for training the mice. Finally, Basic Protocol 5 describes how to obtain and analyze the psychometric data. Our methods include several distinctive features, including a custom quick-release method for holding the head and specific strategies for training mice over multiple weeks. Published 2020. U.S. Government.</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 1</b>: Experimental apparatus</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 2</b>: Head fixture surgery</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 3</b>: General operation of the experimental apparatus</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 4</b>: Behavioral task design and training</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 5</b>: Psychometric data collection and analysis</p>","PeriodicalId":40016,"journal":{"name":"Current Protocols in Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/cpns.95","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37775198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Translatome Analyses Using Conditional Ribosomal Tagging in GABAergic Interneurons and Other Sparse Cell Types","authors":"Vivek Mahadevan, Areg Peltekian, Chris J. McBain","doi":"10.1002/cpns.93","DOIUrl":"10.1002/cpns.93","url":null,"abstract":"<p>GABAergic interneurons comprise a small but diverse subset of neurons in the mammalian brain that tightly regulate neuronal circuit maturation and information flow and, ultimately, behavior. Because of their centrality in the etiology of numerous neurological disorders, examining the molecular architecture of these neurons under different physiological scenarios has piqued the interest of the broader neuroscience community. The last few years have seen an explosion in next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches aimed at identifying genetic and state-dependent subtypes in neuronal diversity. Although several approaches are employed to address neuronal molecular diversity, ribosomal tagging has emerged at the forefront of identifying the translatomes of neuronal subtypes. This approach primarily relies on Cre recombinase–driven expression of hemagglutinin A (HA)–tagged RiboTag mice exclusively in the neuronal subtype of interest. This allows the immunoprecipitation of cell-type-specific, ribosome-engaged mRNA, expressed both in the soma and the neuronal processes, for targeted quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or high-throughput RNA sequencing analyses. Here we detail the typical technical caveats associated with successful application of the RiboTag technique for analyzing GABAergic interneurons, and in theory other sparse cell types, in the central nervous system. Published 2020. U.S. Government.</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 1</b>: Breeding mice to obtain RiboTag homozygosity</p><p><b>Support Protocol 1</b>: Detection of ectopic Cre recombinase expression</p><p><b>Basic Protocol 2</b>: The RiboTag assay</p><p><b>Support Protocol 2</b>: Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay of RiboTag-derived cell-type-specific RNA</p><p><b>Support Protocol 3</b>: Construction of cell-type-specific RNA-seq library</p><p><b>Support Protocol 4</b>: Secondary analyses of RiboTag-derived RNA-seq dataset</p>","PeriodicalId":40016,"journal":{"name":"Current Protocols in Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/cpns.93","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38089333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}