Measuring synaptic transmission and plasticity with fEPSP recordings in behaving mice

Leore R Heim; Shiri Shoob; Lior de Marcas; Daniel Zarhin; Inna Slutsky

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101115

Measuring synaptic transmission and plasticity with fEPSP recordings in behaving mice

STAR Protoc. 2022 Jan 20;3(1):101115. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101115. eCollection 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Leore R Heim¹, Shiri Shoob¹, Lior de Marcas^{1

2}, Daniel Zarhin¹, Inna Slutsky^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
² Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.

Abstract

Spontaneous spiking activity depends on intrinsic excitability and synaptic input. Historically, synaptic activity has been mostly studied ex vivo. Here, we describe a versatile and robust protocol to record field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in behaving rodents. The protocol allows estimating the input-output relationship of a specific pathway, short-term and long-term plasticity, and their modulation by pharmacological or pharmacogenetic interventions and behavioral states. However, experimenters must be aware of the protocol's specificity and interpret results with care. For complete details on the use and execution of this profile, please refer to Styr et al. (2019).

Keywords: Behavior; Microscopy; Neuroscience.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials*
Female
Male
Mice
Neuronal Plasticity*
Synaptic Transmission*