Change in network dynamics over time by administering Notch response inhibitor DAPT to hippocampal culture

Although previous researches have investigated the relationship between learning and memory function in the hippocampus and continuously produced newborn neurons, the detailed role of newly generated neurons remains unclear. Here, we investigated the correlation between immature neurons and the electrical activity of the hippocampus at the network level in vitro. We showed that administrating the Notch response inhibitor DAPT to the hippocampal network enhances the neuronal differentiation of newborn cells and decreases the ratio of immature neurons in hippocampal culture. Unlike the hippocampal network without DAPT, the network with DAPT decreased the burst duration and the coefficient of variation of interburst intervals over culturing time and showed a higher synchronization level of the network over time. Moreover, the number of neurons playing a receiver or sender neuron was lower in the network with DAPT than without DAPT. Our results indicate that immature neurons may contribute to assigning neurons specific nodes as the receiver of the sender and to the diversity of the network activity while altering connections among neurons in the network.Clinical Relevance- Our research demonstrated the effect of DAPT on the ratio of immature neurons. Furthermore, our study showed the role of immature neurons in the hippocampus at the network level.