title: Stimulation of Ca²+ signals in neurons by electrically coupled electrolyte-oxide-semiconductor capacitors.
abstract: Electrolyte-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (EOSCs) are a class of microtransducers for extracellular electrical stimulation that have been successfully employed to activate voltage-dependent sodium channels at the neuronal soma to generate action potentials in vitro. In the present work, we report on their use to control Ca²+ signalling in cultured mammalian cells, including neurons. Evidence is provided that EOSC stimulation with voltage waveforms in the microsecond or nanosecond range activates two distinct Ca²+ pathways, either by triggering Ca²+ entry through the plasma membrane or its release from intracellular stores. Ca²+ signals were activated in non-neuronal and neuronal cell lines, CHO-K1 and SH-SY5Y. On this basis, stimulation was tailored to rat and bovine neurons to mimic physiological somatic Ca²+ transients evoked by glutamate. Being minimally invasive and easy to use, the new method represents a versatile complement to standard electrophysiology and imaging techniques for the investigation of Ca²+ signalling in dissociated primary neurons and cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Veterinary Science, University of Padova, viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro-Agripolis (PD), Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacomello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scorzeto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peruffo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschietto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vassanelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012666:Semiconductors / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004573:Electrolytes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D002118:Calcium; C000543:cyclopiazonic acid