Electrical activity of neurons cultured in vivo

A method is presented, where glass microchambers (1 X 2 mm) are implanted in various brain regions of 4-10 days old rats. The microchamber contains a collagen coated coverglass with cell material taken from the same region of a littermate. Investigation of the neural growth occurs after 4-14 days, on an inverted phase contrast microscope in a temperature and pH controlled, oxygenated BSS medium. Various growth geometries of neurons are observed and microelectrode recordings reveal spontaneous and electrically evoked spike and complex activity.