Automated Live-Cell Imaging of Synapses in Rat and Human Neuronal Cultures.

ABSTRACT: Synapse loss and dendritic damage correlate with cognitive decline in many neurodegenerative diseases, underlie neurodevelopmental disorders, and are associated with environmental and drug-induced CNS toxicities. However, screening assays designed to measure loss of synaptic connections between live cells are lacking. Here, we describe the design and validation of automated synaptic imaging assay (ASIA), an efficient approach to label, image, and analyze synapses between live neurons. Using viral transduction to express fluorescent proteins that label synapses and an automated computer-controlled microscope, we developed a method to identify agents that regulate synapse number. ASIA is compatible with both confocal and wide-field microscopy; wide-field image acquisition is faster but requi

SUBMITTER: Green MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6811609 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature