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Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Primary Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons
Published on: September 8, 2014
Synaptic signalling in a network of dopamine neurons: what prevents proper intercellular crosstalk?
Yixi Chen1,2, Tilo Kunath1,2, Joanna Simpson3
1MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract:
Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons stand out as a cell source for transplantation with their sustainability and consistency superior to the formerly used fetal tissues. However, multiple studies of DA neurons in culture failed to register action potential (AP) generation upon synaptic input. To test whether this is due to deficiency of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) coagonists released from astroglia, we studied the functional properties of neural receptors in hESC-derived DA neuronal cultures. We find that, apart from an insufficient amount of coagonists, lack of interneuronal crosstalk is caused by hypofunction of synaptic NMDARs due to their direct inhibition by synaptically released DA. This inhibitory tone is independent of DA receptors and affects the NMDAR coagonist binding site.
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