A low-cost, 3D-printed open-source platform for acute brain slice electrophysiology

Brain slice electrophysiology is a widely used approach for investigating synaptic physiology, network activity, and pharmacological responses. However, the high cost of commercial recording chambers and perfusion systems restricts accessibility in resource-limited laboratories. Here, we describe the design, fabrication, and electrophysiological validation of a fully integrated, open-source field recording platform for acute brain slice electrophysiology. The system comprises three independently assembled modules: a submerged recording chamber, a tissue-positioning stage, and a suction assembly, all fabricated via FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer using PLA (Polylactic Acid) filaments at a total material cost of approximately 1.23 USD. The platform was validated using acute hippocampal slices from adult male C57BL/6N mice. Field excitatory postsynaptic potential recordings from the CA3-CA1 Schaffer collateral pathway demonstrated high-fidelity signals and reproducible stimulus-response relationships, alongside stable 15-minute baselines. Thermal characterization confirmed uniform perfusate distribution and rapid temperature equilibration within the chamber bath. All design files and assembly instructions are openly available, with the hardware design files released under the CERN-OHL-S-2.0 license and the documentation under a CC BY 4.0 license, enabling straightforward replication by the broader neuroscience community.