title: Piezoelectric substrates promote neurite growth in rat spinal cord neurons.
abstract: We tested the possibility that exogenous electrical activity from a piezoelectric substrate could influence neuronal structure in cultured spinal cord neurons. Oscillating electrical fields were delivered to rat neurons via substrates consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride) film, both in its piezoelectric (PZ) and non-piezoelectric (PV) forms. To induce oscillating electrical fields at the film surfaces, a 50 Hz mechanical vibration was applied. After 4 days of mechano-electrical stimulation, neuronal densities were increased by 115% and neurons grew 79% more neurites, with more than double the branch points, compared with neurons grown on non-stimulated PZ films (p < 0.001). The effects were due to electrical field, because vibration applied to non-PZ films did not increase neurite growth. We conclude that the oscillating electric fields produced from PZ polymer substrates can induce plastic changes in neurons of the central nervous system and herein we show its influence on neurite growth and branching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. nuriaroyo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Royo-Gascon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wininger
authors.forename: Jerry I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Scheinbeim
authors.forename: Bonnie L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Firestein
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Craelius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011145:Polyvinyls; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers