Sustained synchronized neuronal network activity in a human astrocyte co-culture system

• DOI: 10.1038/srep36529
• Publication Date: 2016-11-07T10:09:44Z
• Authors: Jacobine Kuijlaars; Tutu Oyelami; Annick Diels; Jutta Rohrbacher; Sofie Versweyveld; Giulia Meneghello; Marianne Tuefferd; Peter Verstraelen; Jan R. Detrez; Marlies Verschuuren; Winnok H. De Vos; Theo Meert; Pieter J. Peeters; Miroslav Cik; Rony Nuydens; Bert Brône; An Verheyen
• Keywords: Calcium imaging; Premovement neuronal activity; Biological neural network

Abstract Impaired neuronal network function is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease typically studied using genetically modified cellular animal models. Weak predictive capacity poor translational value these models urge for better human derived in vitro The implementation induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) allows studying pathologies differentiated disease-relevant patient-derived cells. However, the differentiation process growth conditions hiPSC-derived neurons are non-trivial. In order to study formation (mal)function fully humanized system, we have established an co-culture model cortical primary astrocytes that recapitulates synchronization connectivity within three four weeks after final plating. Live cell calcium imaging, electrophysiology high content image analyses revealed increased maturation functionality synchronicity over time co-cultures compared monocultures. express GABAergic glutamatergic markers respond inhibitors both neurotransmitter pathways functional assay. combination this with quantitative imaging morphofunction amenable throughput screening lead discovery drug optimization neurological diseases.