Abstract
Multiple in vivo intracellular recording is a useful technique for understanding how neurons and neural circuits function. However, this is formidable tasks for researchers. To overcome this difficulty, we developed an automated intracellular recording (AIR) system. The AIR system can automatically move an electrode in the brain, find a neuron, activate a brief high frequency current to penetrate the neuron and inject the optimal negative current to recovery from the penetration damage. We evaluated the performance of the AIR system in anesthetized head-restrained mice. The success rate for one electrode was 63% (n=11 electrodes). The average stable recording time was 56 min, and a maximum time was 193min. After stable intracellular recording from one neuron was finished, this system could continuously find another neuron and achieve the intracellular recording from it without changing the electrode. We could record from up to 4 neurons using 1 electrode. For multiple in vivo intracellular recording, we run 6 AIR systems in parallel and succeeded in simultaneous recording from 4 neurons; 2 neurons from the primary somatosensory and 2 neurons from the secondary motor area.
