Main description:

Advances in methodologies and experimental models are pivotal to furthering our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) functions in mammals. Isolated Central Nervous System Circuits examines the application a variety of technologies to mostly active in vitro preparations from basically different CNS regions with a diversity of functions. From patch-clamp, multiphoton imaging, live fluorescent protein expression, or immunohistochemistry techniques to acute or 'organotypic' slices and en bloc preparations, this detailed volume features key protocols and examples for exciting results from the labs of renowned experts. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of thorough implementation advice that is vital for achieving successful results.

Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Isolated Central Nervous System Circuits will greatly aid scientists to further improve models and to develop corresponding models of not yet intensively studied structures such as nucleus ruber, superior colliculus, or basal ganglia.

Contents:

1. Autonomic Nervous System In Vitro: Studying Tonically Active Neurons Controlling Vagal Outflow in Rodent Brainstem Slices

Stefan Trapp and Klaus Ballanyi

2. Anatomically 'Calibrated' Isolated Respiratory Networks from Newborn Rodents

Araya Ruangkittisakul, Bogdan Panaitescu, Lucia Secchia, Nicoleta Bobocea, Chase Kantor, Junya Kuribayashi, Makito Iizuka, and Klaus Ballanyi

3. Physiological Properties of Human Fetal Cortex In Vitro

Anna R. Moore, Wen-Liang Zhou, Igor Jakovcevski, Nada Zecevic, and Srdjan D. Antic

4. Histological Characterization of Physiologically Determined Fast-Spiking Interneurons in Slices of Primate Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Kenneth N. Fish, Guillermo Gonzalez-Burgos, Aleksey V. Zaitsev, and David A. Lewis

5. Neural Circuits Underlying Circadian Oscillations in Mammals: Clocks in a Dish

Takahiro J. Nakamura, Stephan Michel, Gene D. Block, and Christopher S. Colwell

6. Osmoregulatory Circuits in Slices and En Bloc Preparations of Rodent Hypothalamus

Tevye J. Stachniak, Jessica R. Sudbury, Eric Trudel, Katrina Y. Choe, Sorana Ciura, and Charles W. Bourque

7. Establishing In Vivo-Like Activity in Rat Cerebellar Cells Maintained In Vitro

Bruce E. McKay, Reza Tadayonnejad, Dustin M. Anderson, Jordan D.T. Engbers, Fernando R. Fernandez, Mircea Iftinca, and Ray W. Turner

8. Spontaneous Rhythmic Activity in the Adult Cerebral Cortex In Vitro

Maria V. Sanchez-Vives

9. Living Human Brain Slices: Network Analysis Using Voltage Sensitive Dyes

Tilman Broicher and Erwin-Josef Speckmann

10. Intact In Vitro Preparations of the Neonatal Rodent Cortex: Analysis of Cellular Properties and Network Activity

Heiko J. Luhmann and Werner Kilb

11. Spontaneous Neural Network Oscillations in Hippocampus, Cortex, and Locus Coeruleus of Newborn Rat and Piglet Brain Slices

Chase Kantor, Bogdan Panaitescu, Junya Kuribayashi, Araya Ruangkittisakul, Igor Jovanovic, Victoria Leung, Tze-Fun Lee, Dave MacTavish, Jack Jhamandas, Po-Yin Cheung, and Klaus Ballanyi

12. Neuronal Networks in the In Vitro Isolated Guinea Pig Brain

Marco De Curtis, Laura Librizzi, Laura Uva, and Vadym Gnatkovsky

13. The Study of Respiratory Chemoreflexes Using a Novel Dual-Perfused Rodent Preparation

Trevor A. Day and Richard J.A. Wilson

14. Defined Medium Organotypic Cultures of Spinal Cord Put 'Pain in a Dish'

James E. Biggs, Van B. Lu, Helena J. Kim, Aaron Lai, Kathryn G. Todd, Klaus Ballanyi, William F. Colmers, and Peter A. Smith

15. Rodent Isolated Spinal Cord Preparations to Examine Motor Output

Sravan Mandadi, Stan T. Nakanishi, Pengcheng Han, Jen Humphreys, and Patrick J. Whelan

Stefan Trapp and Klaus Ballanyi