Protocol for quantifying pyramidal neuron hyperexcitability in a mouse model of neurodevelopmental encephalopathy

Altair Brito Dos Santos; Silas Dalum Larsen; Carlos Daniel Gomez; Jakob Balslev Sørensen; Jean-François Perrier

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102954

Protocol for quantifying pyramidal neuron hyperexcitability in a mouse model of neurodevelopmental encephalopathy

STAR Protoc. 2024 Mar 15;5(2):102954. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102954. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Altair Brito Dos Santos¹, Silas Dalum Larsen², Carlos Daniel Gomez², Jakob Balslev Sørensen², Jean-François Perrier³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Electronic address: altair.santos@sund.ku.dk.
² Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
³ Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Electronic address: perrier@sund.ku.dk.

Abstract

Here, we present a protocol for quantifying pyramidal neuron hyperexcitability in a mouse model of STXBP1 neurodevelopmental encephalopathy (Stxbp1^hap). We describe steps for preparing brain slices, positioning electrodes, and performing an excitability test to investigate microcircuit failures. This protocol is based on recording layer 2/3 cortical pyramidal neurons in response to stimulation of two independent sets of excitatory axons that recruit feedforward inhibition microcircuits. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Dos Santos et al.¹.

Keywords: Genetics; Health Sciences; Neuroscience.