title: Functional connectivity and dynamics of cortical-thalamic networks co-cultured in a dual compartment device.
abstract: Co-cultures containing dissociated cortical and thalamic cells may provide a unique model for understanding the pathophysiology in the respective neuronal sub-circuitry. In addition, developing an in vitro dissociated co-culture model offers the possibility of studying the system without influence from other neuronal sub-populations. Here we demonstrate a dual compartment system coupled to microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for co-culturing and recording spontaneous activities from neuronal sub-populations. Propagation of electrical activities between cortical and thalamic regions and their interdependence in connectivity is verified by means of a cross-correlation algorithm. We found that burst events originate in the cortical region and drive the entire cortical-thalamic network bursting behavior while mutually weak thalamic connections play a relevant role in sustaining longer burst events in cortical cells. To support these experimental findings, a neuronal network model was developed and used to investigate the interplay between network dynamics and connectivity in the cortical-thalamic system.
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Healthcare Department, Philips Research Laboratories Eindhoven, High Tech Campus 34.023, 5656 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands. thiru.kanagasabapathi@philips.com
authors.forename: Thirukumaran T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kanagasabapathi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massobrio
authors.forename: Rocco Andrea
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedesco
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinoia
authors.forename: Wytse J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wadman
authors.forename: Michel M J
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Decré
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*