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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
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Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays
Published on: May 15, 2018
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Microelectrode array scaled for human hippocampal slices
Anssi Pelkonen1, Vera Lezhneva1, Tomi Ryynänen2,3
1A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Epilepsia Open
|March 25, 2026
Summary
A new microelectrode array (MEA), the Hippo-MEA, was developed to record electrical activity from large sections of human hippocampus tissue. This tool aids in understanding temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) pathogenesis by capturing more comprehensive electrophysiological data.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) affects many patients refractory to medication, with surgical resection offering a potential cure.
- The hippocampus is a common origin of seizures in TLE, yet its precise pathogenesis remains poorly understood.
- Current microelectrode arrays (MEAs) cover limited areas of hippocampal tissue, hindering comprehensive electrophysiological analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel MEA, the Hippo-MEA, capable of covering a significant area of human hippocampal slices.
- To facilitate a better understanding of TLE pathogenesis through detailed electrophysiological characterization of resected human hippocampal tissue.
- To enable broader electrophysiological recordings across multiple hippocampal regions simultaneously.
Main Methods:
- Design and fabrication of the custom Hippo-MEA with 60 electrodes (60 μm diameter) over a 5.6 mm × 5.6 mm area.
- Utilizing ion beam-assisted e-beam deposition (IBAD) for titanium nitride-coated electrodes on borosilicate glass.
- Recording extracellular action potentials (EAPs) and local field potentials (LFPs) from 300 μm thick human hippocampal slices using the MEA2100-Mini-system.
Main Results:
- Successful recording of EAPs and LFPs from acute human hippocampal slices using the Hippo-MEA.
- Electrophysiological activity was predominantly observed in the dentate gyrus.
- Sclerotic and gliotic CA regions, identified via immunohistochemistry (IHC), exhibited minimal to no recorded activity.
Conclusions:
- The Hippo-MEA is compatible with standard data acquisition systems, enabling comprehensive electrophysiological recordings from human hippocampal tissue.
- This technology provides a valuable tool for investigating the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying TLE.
- The Hippo-MEA facilitates a deeper understanding of hippocampal function in the context of epilepsy and surgical treatment planning.
