2. Academic Validation
  3. Protocol for targeting the magnocellular neuroendocrine cell ensemble via retrograde tracing from the posterior pituitary

Protocol for targeting the magnocellular neuroendocrine cell ensemble via retrograde tracing from the posterior pituitary

  • STAR Protoc. 2021 Aug 27;2(3):100787. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100787.
Bin Zhang 1 2,  Liyao Qiu 1 2,  Chaoying Long 1 2,  Zhihua Gao 1 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
  • 2 The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
PMID: 34485946 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100787
Abstract

The hypothalamic magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) project to the posterior pituitary (PPi), regulating reproduction and fluid homeostasis. It has been challenging to selectively label and manipulate MNCs, as they are intermingled with parvocellular neuroendocrine cells projecting to the median eminence. Here, we provide a step-by-step protocol for specifically targeting the MNCs by infusing retrograde viral tracers into the PPi. When combined with optogenetics, chemogenetics, and transgenic Animals, this approach allows cell-type-specific manipulation of MNCs in multiple sites for functional dissection. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al. (2021) and Tang et al. (2020).

Keywords

Microscopy; Model organisms; Neuroscience.

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