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Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain
Published on: May 12, 2018
Microelectrode arrays: a physiologically based neurotoxicity testing platform for the 21st century
Andrew F M Johnstone1, Guenter W Gross, Dieter G Weiss
1United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
Neurotoxicology
|April 20, 2010
Summary
Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) offer a high-throughput method for studying electrically excitable cells and screening compounds. This technology provides robust, real-time network activity data for toxicity testing.
Area of Science:
- Electrophysiology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are established tools for studying electrically excitable cells.
- They are used to investigate compound effects on neuronal and cardiac cell networks.
- MEA technology allows simultaneous, real-time extracellular recordings from multiple network sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of MEA system operation and available technologies.
- To discuss mathematical methods for classifying drug or chemical effects.
- To highlight MEA technology's potential for high-throughput compound toxicity screening.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous extracellular recordings of action and field potentials from cell networks.
- Application of physical, chemical, and pharmacological perturbations.
- Utilizing multi-well chips for high-throughput screening of multiple cell networks.
Main Results:
- MEA systems provide robust measures of network activity with increased spatial resolution.
- The technology holistically reflects compound effects through tissue responses.
- MEA technology is scalable to high-throughput systems for recording from multiple networks.
Conclusions:
- MEA technology is well-suited for screening compounds and assessing pharmacological/toxicological effects.
- Emerging mathematical schemes aid in rapid classification of drug effects.
- MEA technology promises to be an influential, high-throughput electrophysiological approach for reliable toxicity testing.
