Chronaxie Measurements in Patterned Neuronal Cultures from Rat Hippocampus.

ABSTRACT: Excitation of neurons by an externally induced electric field is a long standing question that has recently attracted attention due to its relevance in novel clinical intervention systems for the brain. Here we use patterned quasi one-dimensional neuronal cultures from rat hippocampus, exploiting the alignment of axons along the linear patterned culture to separate the contribution of dendrites to the excitation of the neuron from that of axons. Network disconnection by channel blockers, along with rotation of the electric field direction, allows the derivation of strength-duration (SD) curves that characterize the statistical ensemble of a population of cells. SD curves with the electric field aligned either parallel or perpendicular to the axons yield the chronaxie and rheobase of axons

SUBMITTER: Stern S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4506053 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature