Label-free optical detection of action potential in mammalian neurons

Subrata Batabyal, Sarmishtha Satpathy, Loan Bui, Young Tae Kim, Samarendra Mohanty, Robert Bachoo, Digant P. Davé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe an optical technique for label-free detection of the action potential in cultured mammalian neurons. Induced morphological changes due to action potential propagation in neurons are optically interrogated with a phase sensitive interferometric technique. Optical recordings composed of signal pulses mirror the electrical spike train activity of individual neurons in a network. The optical pulses are transient nanoscale oscillatory changes in the optical path length of varying peak magnitude and temporal width. Exogenous application of glutamate to cortical neuronal cultures produced coincident increase in the electrical and optical activity; both were blocked by application of a Na-channel blocker, Tetrodotoxin. The observed transient change in optical path length in a single optical pulse is primarily due to physical fluctuations of the neuronal cell membrane mediated by a yet unknown electromechanical transduction phenomenon. Our analysis suggests a traveling surface wave in the neuronal cell membrane is responsible for the measured optical signal pulses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number#291857
Pages (from-to)3700-3713
Number of pages14
JournalBiomedical Optics Express
Volume8
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017

Keywords

  • Algorithms and filters
  • Image analysis
  • Image processing
  • Image recognition
  • Microscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Label-free optical detection of action potential in mammalian neurons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this