Measurement and Visualization of membrane potential by genetical manipul ati on.

在神经科学中，不仅要分析单个神经元，而且要分析多个神经元之间的网络通信。生物化学家或分子生物学家在讨论神经系统的电生理现象时，不容易使用传统的电生理学。我们计划开发一种非接触式电压传感探针，并建立一种新的检测系统，不使用传统的电生理学，结合电压敏感染料和成像系统来分析神经元的功能。我们开发了使用电压敏感染料的电生理分析和检测系统。我们记录了小鼠海马CAl和CA3的长时程增强（LTP），并对其药理作用机制进行了研究。此外，我们成功地利用多电极记录了小鼠海马神经元的LTP。我们开发的系统有可能实现机械化或自动化。因此，该系统不仅可以用于基础医学研究，还可以用于化合物的系统筛选等产业化。除了研究单个神经元外，使用电压敏感染料的系统还可以分析多个神经元之间的相互作用。

In neuroscience it is important to analyze not only a single neuron but also network communication among multiple neurons. It is not easy for biochemists or molecular biologists to use conventional electrophysiology when they discuss electrophysiological phenomenon in the nervous system. We plan to develop an untouched voltage-sensing probe and establish a novel assay system, without using conventional electrophysiology, to analyze the neuronal functions, combined with voltagesensitive dyes and the imaging system.We developed electrophysiological analyses and assay systems with use of voltage-sensitive dyes. We recorded long-term potentiation (LTP) in CAl and CA3 of mouse hippocampus and made a study of mechanisms of pharmacological modification. Further, we succeeded the recording of LTP in mouse hippocampal neurons using multi-electrodes.The system we develop may be possible to be mechanized or robotized automatically. It is thus expected that the system should be contribute to not only research in basic medicine but also industrialization such as the systematic screening of the compounds. The system using voltagesensitive dyes may enable us to analyze interaction among multi-neurons, in addition to study a single neuron.