Transient reduction of spontaneous neuronal network activity by sublethal amyloid β (1–42) peptide concentrations

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission 2009-03, Vol.116 (3), p.351-355
• Main Authors: Görtz, Philipp, Opatz, Jessica, Siebler, Mario, Funke, Susanne Aileen, Willbold, Dieter, Lange-Asschenfeldt, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action Potentials - drug effects; Action Potentials - physiology; Amyloid beta-Peptides - administration & dosage; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Amyloid beta-Peptides - pharmacology; Animals; Cell Culture Techniques; Cerebral Cortex - cytology; Dementias - Short Communication; Electrophysiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microelectrodes; Nerve Net - drug effects; Nerve Net - physiology; Neurology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Neurosciences; Peptide Fragments - administration & dosage; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Psychiatry; Rats
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s00702-009-0188-y

Soluble amyloid β 1–42 (Aβ 1–42 ) peptide has recently been assigned a key role in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology accounting for synaptic dysfunction before amyloid plaque formation and neurodegeneration can occur. Following sublethal Aβ 1–42 administration, we observed an acute but transient reduction of the spike and burst rate of spontaneously active cortical networks cultured on microelectrode arrays. This simple experimental system appears suitable for future long-term pharmacological and genetic studies of Aβ 1–42 signaling, thus providing a valuable new tool in AD research.