Optical measurement of synaptic vesicle fusion and its inhibition by inositol pyrophosphate in primary cultured hippocampal neurons

Abstract

Optical molecular and cellular imaging has provided considerable information in various life science research fields. In particular, pHluorin-based assays allow us to specifically investigate presynaptic physiological processes, such as synaptic transmission and synaptic retrieval. Here, I describe quantitative synaptic transmission in primary cultured hippocampal neurons using a vGlut-pHluorin system combined with a high-fidelity optical imaging system and its regulation by inositol pyrophosphate.