Abstract
Recent advances in genetics made possible to direct the gene transfection in a cell specific way and thus selectively manipulate with the target cell properties, including the central nervous system. Here we report establishing a novel technique of Calcium cellular imaging using miniaturized fluorescent cameras with endoscopes to image ac-tivity of large populations of individual neural cells.
We describe surgery technique of injecting the viral vector with a gene construct and the subsequent implantation of the intracerebral endoscope. We introduced a modified protocol of preparing the endoscope shaft in the brain tissue.
Standard tissue suction has been replaced by a usage of slow speed drilling technique that enables substantially better control over the diameter and depth of the hole. We recorded several hundreds of cells and established the protocol for the routine use .