Real-time visualization of axonal transport in neurons.

Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2011

The normal function of neurons depends on the integrity of microtubule-dependent transport of cellular materials and organelles to/from their cell bodies or axon terminus. In this chapter, we describe the design and implementation of a fluorescence imaging method to visualize axonal transport in neurons directly. We combine a pseudo total internal reflection microscopy, quantum dot fluorescence labeling, microfluidic neuronal culture chamber, and single molecule detection methods to achieve a high spatial and temporal resolution in tracking nerve growth factor transport in dorsal root ganglia neurons.