RIKEN Brain Science Institute View Institution's Website 7 articles published in JoVE Neuroscience Purification of the Dendritic Filopodia-rich Fraction Yutaka Furutani1,2, Yoshihiro Yoshihara3 1Laboratory for Neurobiology of Synapse, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2Liver Cancer Prevention Research Unit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 3Laboratory for Systems Molecular Ethology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science In this protocol, we introduce a method for purifying the dendritic filopodia-rich fraction from the phagocytic cup-like protrusion structure on cultured hippocampal neurons by taking advantage of the specific and strong affinity between a dendritic filopodial adhesion molecule, TLCN, and an extracellular matrix molecule, vitronectin. Neuroscience Large-scale Three-dimensional Imaging of Cellular Organization in the Mouse Neocortex Taisuke Yoneda1, Seiichiro Sakai1,2, Hisato Maruoka1, Toshihiko Hosoya1 1RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science Here we describe a procedure for tissue clearing, fluorescent labeling, and large-scale imaging of mouse brain tissue which, thereby, enables visualization of the three-dimensional organization of cell types in the neocortex. Neuroscience Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna M. Rezaul Karim1, Keita Endo2, Adrian W Moore3, Hiroaki Taniguchi1 1Laboratory for Genetic Code, Graduate School of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 2Laboratory for Circuit Mechanisms of Sensory Perception, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 3Disease Mechanism Research Core, RIKEN Brain Science Institute Herein we describe the process of whole mount immunostaining of Drosophila antennae, which enables us to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the diversification of olfactory receptor neurons (ORN)s. Neuroscience Immunohistological Labeling of Microtubules in Sensory Neuron Dendrites, Tracheae, and Muscles in the Drosophila Larva Body Wall Cagri Yalgin1,2, M. Rezaul Karim1,2, Adrian W. Moore1 1Disease Mechanism Research Core, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University To understand how complex cell shapes, such as neuronal dendrites, are achieved during development, it is important to be able to accurately assay microtubule organization. Here we describe a robust immunohistological labeling method to examine microtubule organization of dendritic arborization neuron sensory dendrites, trachea, muscle, and other Drosophila larva body wall tissues. Neuroscience Morphological Analysis of Drosophila Larval Peripheral Sensory Neuron Dendrites and Axons Using Genetic Mosaics M. Rezaul Karim1,2, Adrian W. Moore1 1Disease Mechanism Research Core, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University The dendritic arborization sensory neurons of the Drosophila larval peripheral nervous system are useful models to elucidate both general and neuron class-specific mechanisms of neuron differentiation. We present a practical guide to generate and analyze dendritic arborization neuron genetic mosaics. Neuroscience Mouse in Utero Electroporation: Controlled Spatiotemporal Gene Transfection Asuka Matsui1, Aya C. Yoshida1, Mayumi Kubota1, Masaharu Ogawa1, Tomomi Shimogori1 1Lab for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute A gene transfer method into the developing mouse brain is described by using a unique surgical method and special shape of electrodes. This unique technique allows transfection of plasmid DNA temporally and spatially, which will aid many neuroscientists in studying brain development. Biology Application of Light-cured Dental Adhesive Resin for Mounting Electrodes or Microdialysis Probes in Chronic Experiments Tetsu Okumura1, Kazuo Okanoya2, Jun Tani1 1Laboratory for Behavior and Dynamic Cognition, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2Laboratory for Biolinguistics, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN In this report, we propose a new application of light-curing dental resins for mounting base of electrodes or microdialysis probes in chronic experiments. This material allows direct bonding to the cranium.