[Microstructural observation of epileptic neurons in vitro by atomic force microscopy].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the microstructure of the cell membrane of epileptic neurons using atomic force microscopy (AFM).


METHODS
Model of epileptic neurons was established by subjecting the neurons culture for 14 days in vitro to magnesium-free media treatment for 3 h. Patch clamp technique was applied to record the electrophysiological activity of the epileptic neurons. AFM was performed to observe and measure the microstructure of the cell membrane of the epileptic neuron.


RESULTS
After a 3-hour treatment with magnesium-free media, the epileptic neurons displayed sustained epileptiform discharge, which continued after the neurons were returned to normal medium culture on day 14. Under AFM scanning size of 80 microm x 80 microm and 2 microm x 2 microm, no obvious difference in the morphology of the cell membrane was noted between epileptic and normal neurons; under the scanning size of 500 nm x 500 nm, small pits occurred in the cell membrane in both groups, but no significant difference was found in the dimension of the pits between the two groups (the diameter and depth of the pits was 114.86-/+9.33 nm and 5.71-/+0.69 nm in epileptic neurons, and 116.4-/+9.13 nm and 5.69-/+0.71 nm in the control neurons, respectively, P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
AFM provides a new method for observing neuronal membrane microstructure at nanometer resolutions. No significant alterations occur in the membrane of the neurons after a 3-hour magnesium-free media treatment.
Shen
Hong
H
Fourth Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. shenhong67@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Jing-he
JH
Liu
Li
L
Lin
Zhi-guo
ZG
Che
Yan-jun
YJ
Zhang
Fan
F
Zhang
Feng-min
FM
Bai
Yun-long
YL
Yang
Fu-ming
FM
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D053444:Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials; D008274:Magnesium; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques
D003470:Culture Media; D008274:Magnesium