title: Rat hippocampal slice culture models for the evaluation of neuroprotective agents.
abstract: Organotypic slices cultured for weeks in vitro represent an extremely valuable strategy for the investigation of the long-term properties of neuronal circuits under physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we describe how to prepare rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures and how to expose them for appropriate periods of time to excitotoxic agents or to oxygen and glucose deprivation conditions, in order to mimic the pattern of pyramidal cell damage which is observed in vivo and in other in vitro models. This preparation is very useful not only to study synaptic plasticity or the pathways and mechanisms of neurodegeneration but also to evaluate the effects of neuroprotective agents.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacologia Preclinica e Clinica "Mario Aiazzi Mancini", Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerace
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Landucci
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scartabelli
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: Domenico E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pellegrini-Giampietro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000293:injuries; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents