Applicability of Live Cell Imaging of mRNA Expression in Combination with Calcium Imaging for in vitro Studies of Neural Network Activity

Resumo

The effectiveness of live cell mRNA detection for neurobiological studies was evaluated. We modified the commercial protocol for the use of RNA detection probes (SmartFlareTM, Merck) for primary hippocampal cultures. It was shown that RNA probes could be used both as an independent evaluation system and in combination with Ca²⁺ imaging. The complex of these methods provided the unique possibility of performing simultaneous studies of the functional calcium homeostasis of neuronal-glial networks and differential analysis of the plasticity of cells with different levels of mRNA expression.