Long-term stimulation of mouse hippocampal slice culture on microelectrode array

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology
• Central Nervous System Research

Background:

• Simultaneous multisite recording and stimulation are crucial for understanding central nervous system (CNS) function.
• Existing methods have limitations for long-term analysis of neural networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an innovative approach for long-term stimulation and recording from intact neural networks.
• To assess the in vivo-like characteristics of organotypically cultured neural tissue on microelectrode arrays (MEAs).

Main Methods:

• Utilized planar MEAs with 60 substrate-integrated nano-columnar electrodes.
• Developed a tilting incubator for long-term culturing and electrical contacting of mouse hippocampal slices.
• Employed histochemical staining, Alexa dye microinjection, and spontaneous activity recording to characterize tissue.

Main Results:

• Organotypically cultured hippocampal tissue exhibited in vivo-like characteristics after 2-3 weeks in vitro.
• Demonstrated feasibility of long-term stimulation, with 0.003 Hz stimulation over 16 hours causing a significant decline in field potentials and population spikes.
• Controlled experiments confirmed the observed effects were not due to tissue detachment or cell death.

Conclusions:

• The novel MEA technology facilitates long-term stimulation and recording of neural networks.
• This approach offers a new platform for studying neural activity regulation, cell differentiation, and gene expression.
• The technology holds promise for advancing research into CNS development and neurodegenerative diseases.