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Three-dimensional random access multiphoton microscopy for functional imaging of neuronal activity

Nature Neuroscience volume 11, pages 713–720 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The dynamic ability of neuronal dendrites to shape and integrate synaptic responses is the hallmark of information processing in the brain. Effectively studying this phenomenon requires concurrent measurements at multiple sites on live neurons. Substantial progress has been made by optical imaging systems that combine confocal and multiphoton microscopy with inertia-free laser scanning. However, all of the systems developed so far restrict fast imaging to two dimensions. This severely limits the extent to which neurons can be studied, as they represent complex three-dimensional structures. Here we present a new imaging system that utilizes a unique arrangement of acousto-optic deflectors to steer a focused, ultra-fast laser beam to arbitrary locations in three-dimensional space without moving the objective lens. As we demonstrate, this highly versatile random-access multiphoton microscope supports functional imaging of complex three-dimensional cellular structures such as neuronal dendrites or neural populations at acquisition rates on the order of tens of kilohertz.

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Figure 1: Two-dimensional versus three-dimensional AOD Scanning.
Figure 2: Optical layout and axial scan range.
Figure 3: Structural imaging with different three-dimensional scanning modes.
Figure 4: Structural imaging of neurons.
Figure 5: Functional imaging of CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Figure 6: Fast three-dimensional monitoring of dendritic calcium dynamics.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Y. Liang for his contributions to the neurophysiology experiments. This project was supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to P.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Suite 116 Keck Hall, Houston, 77005, Texas, USA

    Gaddum Duemani Reddy & Peter Saggau

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza S730, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Gaddum Duemani Reddy, Rudy Fink & Peter Saggau

  3. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, 77004, Texas, USA

    Keith Kelleher

Authors
  1. Gaddum Duemani Reddy
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Contributions

G.D.R. designed the microscope, performed the initial experiments and wrote the manuscript. K.K. carried out the neurophysiological experiments and R.F. designed the software. P.S. Conceived the three-dimensional scanning and supervised the project.

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Correspondence to Peter Saggau.

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Duemani Reddy, G., Kelleher, K., Fink, R. et al. Three-dimensional random access multiphoton microscopy for functional imaging of neuronal activity. Nat Neurosci 11, 713–720 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2116

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