Low-frequency stimulation enhances burst activity in cortical cultures during development

Abstract The intact brain is continuously targeted by a wealth of stimuli with distinct spatio-temporal patterns which modify, since the very beginning of development, the activity and the connectivity of neuronal networks. In this paper, we used dissociated neuronal cultures coupled to microelectro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience 2010-02, Vol.165 (3), p.692-704
Main Authors: Bologna, L.L, Nieus, T, Tedesco, M, Chiappalone, M, Benfenati, F, Martinoia, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Culture Techniques
Cells, Cultured
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Electric Stimulation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
micro-electrode array
Microelectrodes
multi-site stimulation
network burst
Neurology
Neurons - physiology
rat cortical neurons
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Time Factors
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:Abstract The intact brain is continuously targeted by a wealth of stimuli with distinct spatio-temporal patterns which modify, since the very beginning of development, the activity and the connectivity of neuronal networks. In this paper, we used dissociated neuronal cultures coupled to microelectrode arrays (MEAs) to study the response of cortical neuron assemblies to low-frequency stimuli constantly delivered over weeks in vitro . We monitored the spontaneous activity of the cultures before and after the stimulation sessions, as well as their evoked response to the stimulus. During in vitro development, the vast majority of the cultures responded to the stimulation by significantly increasing the bursting activity and a widespread stabilization of electrical activity was observed after the third week of age. A similar trend was present between the spontaneous activity of the networks observed over 30 min after the stimulus and the responses evoked by the stimulus itself, although no significant differences in spontaneous activity were detected between stimulated and non-stimulated cultures belonging to the same preparations. The data indicate that the stimulation had a delayed effect modulating responsiveness capability of the network without directly affecting its intrinsic in vitro development.
ISSN:0306-4522
1873-7544
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.11.018