The brain is an especially active metabolic system, requiring a large supply of energy following neuronal activation. However, direct observation of cellular metabolic dynamics associated with neuronal activation is challenging with currently available imaging tools. In this study, an optical imaging approach combining imaging of calcium transients and the metabolic co-enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) is utilized to track the metabolic dynamics in hippocampal neuron cultures. Results show distinct cellular components for the NAD(P)H response following neuronal activity, where notable differences in the NAD(P)H dynamics between neurons and astrocytes can be directly observed. Additionally, tracking of these responses across a large field of view is demonstrated for metabolic profiling of neuronal activation. Observation of neuronal dynamics using these methods allows for closer examination of the complex metabolic machinery of the brain, and may lead to a better understanding of the cellular metabolism of neuronal activation.

中文翻译：

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神经元活动期间代谢瞬变的高速无标记双光子荧光显微镜

大脑是一个特别活跃的代谢系统，在神经元激活后需要大量能量供应。然而，直接观察与神经元激活相关的细胞代谢动力学对于目前可用的成像工具具有挑战性。在这项研究中，结合钙瞬变和代谢辅酶烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸（磷酸盐）（NAD（P）H）成像的光学成像方法用于跟踪海马神经元培养物中的代谢动力学。结果显示神经元活动后 NAD(P)H 反应的不同细胞成分，其中可以直接观察到神经元和星形胶质细胞之间 NAD(P)H 动力学的显着差异。此外，在大视野范围内跟踪这些反应已被证明可用于神经元激活的代谢分析。