Diolistics:Pun within Pun

Jeff Gauthier

Computational Neurobiology (PhD)

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First: bio + ballistics = biolistics(coined by Ed and Marlene Wolf, 1986)

1-2 µm tungsten beads,coated with DNA or RNA

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Propelled at tissue usingpressurized helium

What if we use dye instead of DNA?Lipophilic dyes DiA, DiD, DiI, DiO, …

Second: DiO + Biolistics = Diolistics(Gan, et al. 2000)

Gan et al, 2000

Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cellsfrom Sun, et al. 2002

Diffuses throughout most neurons (~200 µm diameter) in 30 min

Does not affect cell health (apparently)

Requires hours to express

Can severely alter cell metabolism

BiolisticsDiolistics

Multicolor “DiOlistic” Labeling of the Nervous System Using

Lipophilic Dye Combinations Gan, et al. 2000

Large-Scale Morphological Survey of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells

Sun, et al. 2002

Large-Scale Morphological Survey of Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells

Sun, et al. 2002

Quantitative morphologic classification of layer 5 neurons from

mouse primary visual cortexTsiola, et al. 2003

High-throughput Morphometric Analysis of Individual Neurons

Wu, et al. 2004

20002001

20022003

2004

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Gauthier 2004

(personal communication)

guinea pig retina