To examine how AMPAR trafficking and activity dependent neuronal development regulates each other, I have set up a long-term imaging systems that allow us to grow neurons on microscope stage under normal culture conditions, and image them for at least 7 days. The imaging system is a Carl Zeiss LSM 510 on a AxioVert microscope, the tempreture and CO2 systems are also from Carl Zeiss with custom modification to allow better air circulation and humidifying the circulating air. Below is an example of imaging a dish of neuron that was transfected with GFP using electroporation before plating. The imaging section started at DIV5 and lasted 7 days.

The setup:

What we can do with this system (Large file, will take a while to load...)