Rat-centric PlexBright Optogenetics

Plexon’s newsletter from September 26, 2013 that discusses newly released PlexBright Optogenetics products.

 

 

September 26, 2013

NEW Rat-centric PlexBright™ Optogenetics Products

Plexon first introduced its line of PlexBright™ Optical Patch Cables and Fiber Stub Implants utilizing LC Ferrules. This new launch expands the product offerings to now include the complete line of Optical Patch Cables and Fiber Stub Implants with larger FC Ferrules.

A ferrule is a hollow, ceramic cylinder – often called a cannula – through which Plexon passes its high performance optical fibers. A PlexBright Fiber Stub Implant is made of a ferrule with an optical fiber at the center that starts flush with one end of the ferrule and extends beyond the other end revealing an exposed fiber of a specified length. The fiber stub is permanently implanted into the head of the subject with the exposed fiber placed into the tissue and the ferrule end protruding above the skull.

PlexBright Optical Patch Cables transmit light from the LED module to the cable’s tip. Optical Patch Cables supporting freely behaving animal research have a ferrule at the tip through which optical fiber passes and ends flush with the ferrule end leaving no exposed fiber. The two ferrules – one from the Optical Patch Cable and the one on the Fiber Stub Implant – come together forming a direct connection and secured with a ceramic sleeve. This union enables the transmission of light from the fiber in the Optical Patch Cable through the fiber in the Fiber Stub Implant and out into the tissue at the targeted depth.

LC Ferrules are smaller (1.25mm outside diameter x 6.45mm length) and used with rats, mice and other small animals. The new FC Ferrules are a bit larger (2.5mm outside diameter x 10.5mm length) and offer additional strength useful with stronger animals. Thus, the FC Ferrule series of products is typically used with rats and other larger animals. Preference is strictly up to the researcher and the experimental conditions with the above information offered as a loose guide.

It is important to note that patch cable and fiber stub ferrules must match to be used together. For example, if the subject is a rat and an FC Ferrule Fiber Stub Implant is chosen, then an Optical Patch Cable with an FC Ferrule tip is also required.

For more information and technical specifications, visit the product pages at plexon.com or contact sales at info@plexon.com.

Intro Pricing Expires Dec 31 for Optogenetic System Products

In 2011, Plexon launched the PlexBright Optogenetic Stimulation System providing an innovative, economical and turnkey approach to performing acute or chronic optogenetic stimulation with LED technology. Advantages of the PlexBright System relative to laser technology include:

• Economical entry into optogenetic research.
• Exceptional light intensities and stability.
• Sub-millisecond response time.
• Compact footprint.
• Lifetime, world-class support.

We introduced the PlexBright System at a very low price point to stimulate interest and gain significant cross-industry experience with its products. Following years of development, hundreds of products tested in labs under countless scenarios, and a proven product line, Plexon will be raising prices to a more appropriate level for the new year enabling the continuation of product line research and development.

To take advantage of this year’s pricing, an order must be placed with Plexon by December 31, 2013 by either a submitted credit card form (found online) or a Purchase Order. Plexon quotes are typically valid for 90 days; however, pricing for PlexBright line items on quotes generated in 2013 will be valid until
December 31, 2013.

Although introductory pricing will expire, the PlexBright System’s much more cost effective LED-based technology will remain an excellent – even superior – financial and operational option over lasers. Researchers will still find the PlexBright System pricing to be as much as an order of magnitude more attractive than other options, as Plexon maintains its targeted effort to assist our customers’ advancement into the realm of optogenetic research at an attractive quality level and a more reasonable price point.

For more information about PlexBright Optogenetic Stimulation System options, visit the website at plexon.com and download the PlexBright Optogenetic Stimulation System Guide.

SfN Raffle for FREE Workshop Registrations

Workshop dates: March 17-20, 2014
For the first time ever, Plexon will raffle off two FREE registrations to the very popular 2014 Annual Neurophysiology and Behavioral Research Workshop during Neuroscience 2013 valued at $900.00.

2014 marks the fifth year of this very popular workshop. Researchers from all over the globe descend on Dallas for three full days packed with instructions, demonstrations and hands-on exercises presented by renowned researchers and Plexon subject matter experts.

The Workshop is limited to no more than 40 attendees to ensure maximum hands-on experience. Each winner receives three days of intense training, robust materials and exercises, a certificate of completion, two $150.00 gift certificates for the 2015 Workshop (one for themselves and the other for a colleague), admission to the Welcome Reception, a ticket to the exceptionally popular social event to enhance networking and a more relaxed learning environment, breakfast and lunch for all three days, a Plexon T-shirt and a mug.

Raffle contestants are invited to enter once during the opening hours of Neuroscience 2013 in San Diego, CA at the Plexon booth #1431. Contestants can be any researchers in attendance that are not distributors for, employees of, or in any way agents of Plexon Inc. Upon the close of the exhibition, two names will be drawn and winners will be contacted immediately. Travel costs are not included in raffle winnings. Additional raffle rules will be available at plexon.com shortly.

We encourage everyone to stop by and enter, and wish the best to all raffle contestants!

Research Spotlight

Let us know about your 2013 publication citing Plexon and our equipment and we will send you a thank you award with a mug and a T-shirt! Send notices, address and T-shirt size to publications@plexon.com.

All articles listed are alphabetical based on first author within two categories: articles published online in electronic-only journals or ahead of print, and articles published in full print.

Recent articles published online in electronic-only journals or ahead of print:

  • Agnesi, Filippo, Allison T. Connolly, Kenneth B. Baker, Jerrold L. Vitek, and Matthew D. Johnson. “Deep Brain Stimulation Imposes Complex Informational Lesions.” PLOS ONE 8, no. 8 (2013): e74462.
  • Jones, Kenneth A., Megumi Hatori, Ludovic S. Mure, Jayne R. Bramley, Roman Artymyshyn, Sang-Phyo Hong, Mohammad Marzabadi et al. “Small-molecule antagonists of melanopsin-mediated phototransduction.” Nature Chemical Biology (2013).
  • Jow, U., Peter McMenamin, Mehdi Kiani, J. Manns, and Maysam Ghovanloo. “EnerCage: A Smart Experimental Arena with Scalable Architecture for Behavioral Experiments.” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (2013): 1-1.
  • Kadohisa, Mikiko, Philippe Petrov, Mark Stokes, Natasha Sigala, Mark Buckley, David Gaffan, Makoto Kusunoki, and John Duncan. “Dynamic Construction of a Coherent Attentional State in a Prefrontal Cell Population.” Neuron (2013).
  • Kaliukhovich, Dzmitry Ae, and Rufin Vogels. “Decoding of Repeated Objects from Local Field Potentials in Macaque Inferior Temporal Cortex.” PLOS ONE 8, no. 9 (2013): e74665.
  • Li, Hao, and Pei-Ji Liang. “Stimulus discrimination via responses of retinal ganglion cells and dopamine-dependent modulation.” Neuroscience Bulletin (2013): 1-12.
  • Lignani, Gabriele, Enrico Ferrea, Francesco Difato, Jessica Amarù, Eleonora Ferroni, Eleonora Lugarà, Stefano Espinoza, Raul R. Gainetdinov, Pietro Baldelli, and Fabio Benfenati. “Long-term optical stimulation of channelrhodopsin-expressing neurons to study network plasticity.” Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 6 (2013).
  • Park, Hyun-Joo, Giorgio Bonmassar, James A. Kaltenbach, Andre G. Machado, Nauman F. Manzoor, and John T. Gale. “Activation of the central nervous system induced by micro-magnetic stimulation.” Nature Communications 4 (2013).
  • Smulders, Tom V., and Erich D. Jarvis. “Different Mechanisms are Responsible for Dishabituation of Electrophysiological Auditory Responses to a Change in Acoustic Identity than to a Change in Stimulus Location.” Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (2013).
  • Song, Weiguo, and Joseph Thachil Francis. “Tactile Information Processing in Primate Hand Somatosensory Cortex (S1) during Passive Arm Movement.” Journal of Neurophysiology (2013).
  • Srejic, Luka R., William D. Hutchison, and Michelle M. Aarts. “Uncoupling PSD-95 interactions leads to rapid recovery of cortical function after focal stroke.” Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2013).
  • Wang, Zheng, Hui-Xin Qi, Jon H. Kaas, Anna W. Roe, and Li Min Chen. “Functional Signature of Recovering Cortex: Dissociation of Local Field Potentials and Spiking Activity in Somatosensory Cortices of Spinal Cord Injured Monkeys.” Experimental Neurology (2013).
  • Wu, Fan, Eran Stark, Maesoon Im, Il-Joo Cho, Eui-Sung Yoon, György Buzsáki, Kensall D. Wise, and Euisik Yoon. “An implantable neural probe with monolithically integrated dielectric waveguide and recording electrodes for optogenetics applications.” Journal of Neural Engineering 10, no. 5 (2013): 056012.

Recent articles published in full print:

  • Jacob, Simon N., Torben Ott, and Andreas Nieder. “Dopamine Regulates Two Classes of Primate Prefrontal Neurons That Represent Sensory Signals.” The Journal of Neuroscience 33, no. 34 (2013): 13724-13734.
  • MacDonald, Christopher J., Stephen Carrow, Ryan Place, and Howard Eichenbaum. “Distinct Hippocampal Time Cell Sequences Represent Odor Memories in Immobilized Rats.” The Journal of Neuroscience 33, no. 36 (2013): 14607-14616.
  • Mirpour, Koorosh, and James W. Bisley. “Evidence for differential top-down and bottom-up suppression in posterior parietal cortex.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 368, no. 1628 (2013).
  • Nichols, Zachary, Sheila Nirenberg, and Jonathan Victor. “Interacting Linear and Nonlinear Characteristics Produce Population Coding Asymmetries between ON and OFF Cells in the Retina.” The Journal of Neuroscience 33, no. 37 (2013): 14958-14973.
  • Xiong, Xiaorui R., Feixue Liang, Haifu Li, Lukas Mesik, Ke K. Zhang, Daniel B. Polley, Huizhong W. Tao, Zhongju Xiao, and Li I. Zhang. “Interaural Level Difference-Dependent Gain Control and Synaptic Scaling Underlying Binaural Computation.” Neuron 79, no. 4 (2013): 738-753.

 

Offline Sorter™ Promotion

Get in on our 30th Anniversary specials for Offline Sorter (OFS) version 3! When you purchase OFS v3, choose either a special pricing (~$1,000 savings) or an extra license ($2,000+ savings). Email info@plexon.com to request a quote or place an order. This promotion expires December 20, 2013.

Upcoming Events

• 4th Congress of the GDR Microelectrode Systems and Signal Processing for Neuroscience Meeting, October 17-18; Bordeaux, France
• Neuroscience 2013, November 9-13; San Diego, California

Innovation for the Next 30 Years

Plexon continues to celebrate its 30th year serving researchers around the globe!

 

PLEXON®, the five-line symbol, CinePlex®, DigiAmp™, Offline Sorter™, OmniPlex® and PlexBright™ are registered and unregistered trademarks of Plexon Inc,
Dallas, Texas, USA. ©2012 Plexon Inc. Other product and company names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.