DRG Sensory Neuron Electrophysiology Platform
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain sensory neuron cell bodies and are a key component of the pathway carrying peripheral sensory information to the spinal cord.
We use rodent and monkey DRG sensory neurons for multidimensional electrophysiological and imaging studies supporting pain-mechanism research and analgesic drug discovery.
The platform can evaluate compound effects on membrane proteins in DRG neurons derived from normal animals or animal models of neuropathic conditions. Species, disease-model status and the target neuronal population are considered when defining the experimental endpoints.
Measurement Methods and Applications
Patch Clamp
- Passive membrane properties: input resistance, membrane capacitance and resting membrane potential.
- Active membrane properties: firing threshold, action potential amplitude and firing frequency.
- Channel studies: voltage- and ligand-gated ion channel currents and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) modulation.
- Synaptic transmission: evoked, spontaneous and miniature currents where the preparation provides an appropriate synaptic network. These endpoints are not presumed to be measurable in every isolated DRG neuron culture.
Calcium Imaging
- Functional analysis of small neuronal subpopulations.
- Visualization of action potential-dependent calcium signals.
- Detection of capsaicin-evoked activity using activity-associated calcium responses.
Calcium imaging reports intracellular calcium dynamics rather than directly recording action potentials or absolute membrane voltage. The recording method is selected according to the question and preparation.
