Electrical stimulation-induced cell clustering in cultured neural networks.
Planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are widely used to record electrical activity from neural networks. However, only a small number of functional recording sites frequently show electrical activity. One contributing factor may be that neurons in vitro receive insufficient synaptic input to develop into fully functional networks. In this study, electrical stimulation was applied to neurons mimicking synaptic input. Various stimulation paradigms were examined. Stimulation amplitude and frequency were tailored to prevent cell death. Two effects of stimulation were observed when 3-week-old cultures were stimulated: (1) clusters of neural cells were observed adjacent to stimulating electrodes and (2) an increase in spontaneous neuronal activity was recorded at stimulating electrodes. Immunocytochemical analysis indicates that stimulation may cause both new neuron process growth as well as astrocyte activation. These data indicate that electrical stimulation can be used as a tool to modify neural networks at specific electrode sites and promote electrical activity.
Jun
Sang Beom
SB
Nano Bioelectronics and Systems Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. sangbum@helios.snu.ac.kr
Hynd
Matthew R
MR
Smith
Karen L
KL
Song
Jong Keun
JK
Turner
James N
JN
Shain
William
W
Kim
Sung June
SJ
D000818:Animals; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley