SHORT ABSTRACT The postembedding immunogold method is one of the most effective ways to provide high-resolution analyses of the subcellular localization of specific molecules. employed, this approach has had 875320-29-9 manufacture only limited success in the retina. We developed a postembedding immunogold method for analysis of membrane receptors, making it possible to estimate the number, density and variability of these receptors at retinal ribbon synapses. Here we describe the tools, reagents, and the practical steps that are needed for: 1) successful preparation of retinal fixation, 2) freeze-substitution, 3) postembedding immunogold electron microscope (EM) immunocytochemistry and, 4) quantitative visualization of glutamate receptors at ribbon synapses. Keywords: retinal neurobiology, synaptic and perisynaptic distribution, immunogold electron microscopy, retinal ganglion cell, NMDA, AMPA, PSD-95 INTRODUCTION Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the retina1. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), receiving glutamatergic synaptic input from bipolar cells2, are the output neurons of the retina which send visual information to the brain. Physiological studies showed that synaptic excitation of RGCs is mediated postsynaptically by NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and AMPA receptors (AMPARs) 3,4,5. Although excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in RGCs are mediated by AMPARs and NMDARs3,5,6,7,8, spontaneous miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) on RGCs show just an AMPARs-mediated element 4,5,9. Nevertheless, reducing glutamate uptake exposed an NMDAR element in spontaneous EPSCs5, recommending that NMDARs on RGC dendrites may be located beyond excitatory synapses. Membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) such as for example PSD-95 that cluster neurotransmitter receptors, 875320-29-9 manufacture including glutamate 875320-29-9 manufacture ion and receptors stations at synaptic sites, show specific subsynaptic manifestation patterns 10 also,11,12,13,14. More than recent years, confocal immunohistochemistry and pre-embedding electron microscope (EM) immunohistochemistry have already been employed to review membrane receptor manifestation. Although confocal immunostaining reveals wide patterns of receptor manifestation, its lower quality makes it difficult to use to tell apart subcellular area. Pre-embedding EM research in mammalian retina reveal that NMDAR subunits can be found in postsynaptic components at cone bipolar cell ribbon synapses 15,16,17. That is in obvious comparison to physiological proof. Nevertheless, diffusion of response product can be a well-known artifact in the pre-embedding immunoperoxidase technique. Hence, this process does not generally give statistically dependable data and could exclude differentiation between localization to synaptic membrane versus extrasynaptic membrane 18,19,20,21. Alternatively, anatomical and physiological data are in keeping with a synaptic localization of AMPARs on RGCs 3,5,7,9,22. Therefore, glutamate receptors and MAGUKs at retinal ribbon synapse are localized not merely towards the postsynaptic but also towards the perisynaptic or extrasynaptic membrane compartments. Nevertheless, a high-resolution quantitative evaluation of the membrane proteins inside a retinal ribbon synapse continues to be needed. Here, a postembedding originated by us EM immunogold strategy to 875320-29-9 manufacture examine the subsynaptic localization of NMDAR subunits, AMPAR subunits and PSD-95 accompanied by estimating the real quantity, denseness and variability of the protein at synapses onto rat RGCs tagged using cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) retrograde tracing strategies. Process Treatment and managing of pets had been relative to NIH Pet Care and Use Committee Guidelines. Postnatal day (P) 15C21 Sprague-Dawley rats, injected with 1C1.2% CTB bilaterally through the superior colliculus, were maintained on a 12:12-hour light:dark cycle. 1. Retinal tissue fixation 1.1) Assemble the following materials and tools: A dissecting microscope, 2 forceps with very fine tips, scissors, cellulose filter paper, plastic pipette and a microscope slide. 1.2) Anesthetize the rat in a closed chamber with 2.0 ml halothane (an inhalant anesthetic). Determine adequate anesthetization by these methods: lack of withdrawal of rear paw after toe pinch, or lack of blink reflex. Then decapitate immediately with a guillotine. Remove the eyes with a pair of iris scissors and place in a glass dish containing 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB) at pH 7.4. 1.3) Using the dissecting microscope, remove the cornea by cutting off the front of the eyeball. Remove the lens and vitreous from the inner retinal surface with forceps. 1.4) Peel the sclera with the two forceps until the retina is isolated from the eyecup. 1.5) Cut the retina immediately into 100C200 m-thick strips with a razor, and subject to pH-shift fixation. 1.6) Fix retina strips in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PB at pH 6.0 for 20C30 minutes and then in 4% Adamts4 paraformaldehyde plus 0.01% glutaraldehyde at pH 10.5 for 10C20 minutes at room temperature (RT). 1.7) After several washes in PB with 0.15 mM CaCl2 (pH 7.4 at 4C), cryoprotect the retinal strips with glycerol (60 minutes each in 10%, 20%, 30%, then overnight in 30%) in 0.1 M PB to freeze substitution previous. 2. Freeze-substitution Take note: This freeze-substitution technique is revised from a youthful published process 19,20. Also, it is very important that the tools are very cool (put on gloves); otherwise, the tissue may thaw when touched using the instruments partially. Many of these measures are done inside the AFS chamber as well as the tools are never permitted to move above the rim from the chamber. Likewise, proper cooling of 875320-29-9 manufacture most chemicals found in.