Intact In Vitro Preparations of the Neonatal Rodent Cortex: Analysis of Cellular Properties and Network Activity

The effects of prolyl hydroxylase inhibition during and post, hypoxia, oxygen glucose deprivation and oxidative stress, in isolated rat hippocampal slices

The contributions of hypoxia and oxidative stress to the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke are well established and can lead to disruptions in synaptic signaling. Hypoxia and oxidative stress lead to the neurotoxic overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the stabilization of hypoxia inducible factors (HIF). Compounds such as prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain enzyme inhibitors (PHDIs) have been shown to have a preconditioning and neuroprotective effect against ischemic insults such as hypoxia, anoxia, oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) or H2O2. Therefore, this study explored the effects of two PHDIs, JNJ-42041935 (10 µM) and roxadustat (100 µM) on cell viability using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. We also assessed the effects of these compounds on synaptic transmission during and post hypoxia, OGD and H2O2 application in isolated rat hippocampal slices using field recording electrophysiological techniques and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit trafficking using immunohistochemistry. Our organotypic data demonstrated a protective role for both inhibitors, where slices had significantly less cell death post anoxia and OGD compared to controls. We also report a distinct modulatory role for both JNJ-42041935 and roxadustat on fEPSP slope post hypoxia and OGD but not H2O2. In addition, we report that application of roxadustat impaired long-term potentiation, but only when applied post-hypoxia. This inhibitory effect was not reversed with co-application of the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK-5) inhibitor, roscovitine (10 µM), suggesting a CDK-5 independent synaptic AMPAR trafficking mechanism. Both hypoxia and OGD induced a reduction in synaptic AMPA GluA2 subunits, the OGD effect being reversed by prior treatment with both JNJ-42041935 and roxadustat. These results suggest an important role for PHDs in synaptic signaling and plasticity during episodes of ischemic stress.

Human in vitro systems for examining synaptic function and plasticity in the brain

The human brain shows remarkable complexity in its cellular makeup and function, which are distinct from nonhuman species, signifying the need for human-based research platforms for the study of human cellular neurophysiology and neuropathology. However, the use of adult human brain tissue for research purposes is hampered by technical, methodological, and accessibility challenges. One of the major problems is the limited number of in vitro systems that, in contrast, are readily available from rodent brain tissue. With recent advances in the optimization of protocols for adult human brain preparations, there is a significant opportunity for neuroscientists to validate their findings in human-based systems. This review addresses the methodological aspects, advantages, and disadvantages of human neuron in vitro systems, focusing on the unique properties of human neurons and synapses in neocortical microcircuits. These in vitro models provide the incomparable advantage of being a direct representation of the neurons that have formed part of the human brain until the point of recording, which cannot be replicated by animal models nor human stem-cell systems. Important distinct cellular mechanisms are observed in human neurons that may underlie the higher order cognitive abilities of the human brain. The use of human brain tissue in neuroscience research also raises important ethical, diversity, and control tissue limitations that need to be considered. Undoubtedly however, these human neuron systems provide critical information to increase the potential of translation of treatments from the laboratory to the clinic in a way animal models are failing to provide.

Taurine potentiates the anticonvulsive effect of the GABAA agonist muscimol and pentobarbital in the immature mouse hippocampus

OBJECTIVE

The high incidence of epileptic seizures in neonates and their frequent refractoriness to pharmacologic therapies require identification of new therapeutical options. Therefore, we investigated whether the modulatory effect of taurine on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptors can enhance the anticonvulsive potential of the GABA_A receptor agonist muscimol and of the barbiturate pentobarbital.

METHODS

We performed field potential recordings in in toto hippocampus preparations of immature (postnatal days 4-7) C57Bl/6 mouse pups. Spontaneous epileptiform activity was induced by the continuous presence of the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine and the glycinergic antagonist strychnine in Mg²⁺ -free solutions.

RESULTS

Bath application of 0.1 μmol/L muscimol increases the occurrence of recurrent epileptiform discharges, whereas they are significantly attenuated in a dose-dependent manner by muscimol in concentrations between 0.5 and 5 μmol/L. Taurine at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/L induces a proconvulsive effect, but upon coapplication, it significantly augments the anticonvulsive effect of moderate muscimol doses (0.5-1 μmol/L). In addition, the anticonvulsive effect of 100 and 200 μmol/L pentobarbital is increased significantly in the presence of 0.5 μmol/L taurine.

SIGNIFICANCE

These observations demonstrate that taurine can indeed enhance the anticonvulsive effects of muscimol and pentobarbital, suggesting that taurine may act as a positive modulator on GABA_A receptors. Thus, interfering with the modulatory taurine binding site of GABA_A receptors or the interstitial taurine concentration may provide new therapeutical options for anticonvulsive therapies in neonates.

Braincubator: an incubation system to extend brain slice lifespan for use in neurophysiology

In vitro brain slice preparations are instrumental in developing our understanding of the nervous system. However, the current lifespan of an acute brain slice is limited to approximately 6-12 hours. This reduces potential experimentation time and leads to considerable waste of neural tissue. We have designed, developed and tested a novel incubation system capable of extending the lifespan of these brain slices. This is done by controlling the temperature and pH of the artificial cerebral spinal fluid in which the slices are incubated while continuously passing the fluid through a UVC filtration system. This system is capable of maintaining extremely low bacterial levels and significantly extending the brain slice lifespan to at least 24 hours. Brain slice viability was validated through electrophysiological recordings as well as live/dead cell assays.

Extending the viability of acute brain slices

The lifespan of an acute brain slice is approximately 6–12 hours, limiting potential experimentation time. We have designed a new recovery incubation system capable of extending their lifespan to more than 36 hours. This system controls the temperature of the incubated artificial cerebral spinal fluid (aCSF) while continuously passing the fluid through a UVC filtration system and simultaneously monitoring temperature and pH. The combination of controlled temperature and UVC filtering maintains bacteria levels in the lag phase and leads to the dramatic extension of the brain slice lifespan. Brain slice viability was validated through electrophysiological recordings as well as live/dead cell assays. This system benefits researchers by monitoring incubation conditions and standardizing this artificial environment. It further provides viable tissue for two experimental days, reducing the time spent preparing brain slices and the number of animals required for research.

Activation of glycine receptors modulates spontaneous epileptiform activity in the immature rat hippocampus

While the expression of glycine receptors in the immature hippocampus has been shown, no information about the role of glycine receptors in controlling the excitability in the immature CNS is available. Therefore, we examined the effect of glycinergic agonists and antagonists in the CA3 region of an intact corticohippocampal preparation of the immature (postnatal days 4-7) rat using field potential recordings. Bath application of 100 μM taurine or 10 μM glycine enhanced the occurrence of recurrent epileptiform activity induced by 20 μM 4-aminopyridine in low Mg(2+) solution. This proconvulsive effect was prevented by 3 μM strychnine or after incubation with the loop diuretic bumetanide (10 μM), suggesting that it required glycine receptors and an active NKCC1-dependent Cl(-) accumulation. Application of higher doses of taurine (≥ 1 mM) or glycine (100 μM) attenuated recurrent epileptiform discharges. The anticonvulsive effect of taurine was also observed in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist gabazine and was attenuated by strychnine, suggesting that it was partially mediated by glycine receptors. Bath application of the glycinergic antagonist strychnine (0.3 μM) induced epileptiform discharges. We conclude from these results that in the immature hippocampus, activation of glycine receptors can mediate both pro- and anticonvulsive effects, but that a persistent activation of glycine receptors is required to suppress epileptiform activity. In summary, our study elucidated the important role of glycine receptors in the control of neuronal excitability in the immature hippocampus.