Single-cell Electroporation Electrical Stimulation System

When a cell membrane was affected by a proper strength electric field, some poreswill appear on the cell membrane and instantly increase the permeability of cellmembrane. This phenomenon is called cell electroporation which can be used to let themacromolecules(DNA,RNA, protein, drug particles and Fluorescence dye that unable topass through the cell membrane under normal condition transport into the cell.A central question in neuroscience is how specific molecular and cellularmechanisms within neurons can lead to complex brain functions, such as perception,learning and behavior. To address this question, it is crucial to be able to perturb andmodify neural circuits on the single-cell level by regulating expression of genes inidentified cells. we have established a single-cell electroporation system by using theexisting equipment of our laboratory. Connecting with the Two-photon microscopicsystem of our laboratory, we have done single-cell electroporation on mice brain. Thisprovides a reliable method for the marker and transfection of single neuron.