Neuronal medium that supports basic synaptic functions and activity of human neurons in vitro

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Human cell reprogramming enables in vitro modeling of neurological disorders using patient-derived neurons.
• Neuronal electrical activity is critical for nervous system function, but standard culture media can impair it.
• Existing culture media may not accurately reflect in vivo physiological conditions for neuronal studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of standard neuronal culture media on human neuron activity.
• To design and validate a novel physiological medium that supports robust neurophysiological function in vitro.
• To enhance the utility of human neuronal models for studying neurological diseases.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of neuronal electrical activity (action potential generation, synaptic communication) in various standard media.
• Development of a new medium (BrainPhys basal + serum-free supplements) with optimized salt, amino acid, and substrate concentrations.
• Long-term culture and electrophysiological assessment of human and rodent neurons in the developed medium.

Main Results:

• Standard basal media and serum significantly impair action potential generation and synaptic communication in human neurons.
• The newly designed BrainPhys medium adequately supports human neuron survival and neurophysiological activity.
• Long-term use of the BrainPhys medium increased the proportion of synaptically active neurons and proved effective for rodent neurons.

Conclusions:

• Standard neuronal culture media negatively impact essential neuronal functions, limiting their in vitro modeling capabilities.
• The developed BrainPhys medium represents a significant advancement in supporting physiological neuronal activity in vitro.
• This improved medium bridges the gap between in vivo brain conditions and in vitro neuronal models, aiding neurological disorder research.