Patent ID: 8263821

Claim:
A method for the optical detection of Ca 2+ signals in a transgenic mouse or rat, wherein the method comprises: (A) providing a moving, live, transgenic neonatal or embryonic mouse or rat whose genome comprises a transcriptionally active transgene encoding a Ca 2+ -sensitive polypeptide, which comprises aequorin linked to a fluorescent protein, wherein the link between the aequorin and fluorescent protein functions to allow transfer of energy by Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (CRET) between the two proteins; (B) administering coelenterazine or a coelenterazine analog to the mouse or rat; (C) non-invasively monitoring photons emitted by the Ca 2+ -sensitive polypeptide; and wherein (D) the photons are monitored in the spinal cord, cerebral trunk, hind legs, forelimb, or skin of the transgenic mouse or rat.