Neuronal maturation in mammalian cell culture is dependent on spontaneous electrical activity

Expression and Functional Properties of NMDA and GABAA Receptors during Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Ventral Mesencephalic Neurons

Ionotropic glutamate and GABA receptors regulate the differentiation and determine the functional properties of mature neurons. Both insufficient and excessive activity of these neurotransmission systems are associated with various nervous system diseases. Our knowledge regarding the expression profiles of these receptors and the mechanisms of their regulation during the differentiation of specialized human neuron subtypes is limited. Here the expression profiles of the NMDA and GABA_A receptor subunits were explored during in vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into ventral mesencephalic neurons. The correlation between the neuronal maturation and the expression dynamics of these genes was investigated, and the functional activity of these receptors was assessed by calcium imaging. The role of NMDA and GABA_A receptors in neurite outgrowth and the development of spontaneous activity was analyzed using the viral transduction of neural progenitors with the reporter genes TagGFP and TagRFP. The data indicate that agonists of the investigated receptors can be employed for optimization of existing protocols for neural differentiation of iPSCs, in particular for acceleration of neuronal maturation.

Optochemogenetic Stimulation of Transplanted iPS-NPCs Enhances Neuronal Repair and Functional Recovery after Ischemic Stroke

Cell transplantation therapy provides a regenerative strategy for neural repair. We tested the hypothesis that selective excitation of transplanted induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (iPS-NPCs) could recapitulate an activity-enriched microenvironment that confers regenerative benefits for the treatment of stroke. Mouse iPS-NPCs were transduced with a novel optochemogenetics fusion protein, luminopsin 3 (LMO3), which consisted of a bioluminescent luciferase, Gaussia luciferase, and an opsin, Volvox Channelrhodopsin 1. These LMO3-iPS-NPCs can be activated by either photostimulation using light or by the luciferase substrate coelenterazine (CTZ). In vitro stimulations of LMO3-iPS-NPCs increased expression of synapsin-1, postsynaptic density 95, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and stromal cell-derived factor 1 and promoted neurite outgrowth. After transplantation into the ischemic cortex of mice, LMO3-iPS-NPCs differentiated into mature neurons. Synapse formation between implanted and host neurons was identified using immunogold electron microscopy and patch-clamp recordings. Stimulation of transplanted cells with daily intranasal administration of CTZ enhanced axonal myelination, synaptic transmission, improved thalamocortical connectivity, and functional recovery. Patch-clamp and multielectrode array recordings in brain slices showed that CTZ or light stimulation facilitated synaptic transmission and induced neuroplasticity mimicking the LTP of EPSPs. Stroke mice received the combined LMO3-iPS-NPC/CTZ treatment, but not cell or CTZ alone, showed enhanced neural network connections in the peri-infarct region, promoted optimal functional recoveries after stroke in male and female, young and aged mice. Thus, excitation of transplanted cells via the noninvasive optochemogenetics treatment provides a novel integrative cell therapy with comprehensive regenerative benefits after stroke.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neural network reconnection is critical for repairing damaged brain. Strategies that promote this repair are expected to improve functional outcomes. This study pioneers the generation and application of an optochemogenetics approach in stem cell transplantation therapy after stroke for optimal neural repair and functional recovery. Using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (iPS-NPCs) expressing the novel optochemogenetic probe luminopsin (LMO3), and intranasally delivered luciferase substrate coelenterazine, we show enhanced regenerative properties of LMO3-iPS-NPCs in vitro and after transplantation into the ischemic brain of different genders and ages. The noninvasive repeated coelenterazine stimulation of transplanted cells is feasible for clinical applications. The synergetic effects of the combinatorial cell therapy may have significant impacts on regenerative approach for treatments of CNS injuries.

Accumulation of Dense Core Vesicles in Hippocampal Synapses Following Chronic Inactivity

The morphology and function of neuronal synapses are regulated by neural activity, as manifested in activity-dependent synapse maturation and various forms of synaptic plasticity. Here we employed cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to visualize synaptic ultrastructure in cultured hippocampal neurons and investigated changes in subcellular features in response to chronic inactivity, a paradigm often used for the induction of homeostatic synaptic plasticity. We observed a more than 2-fold increase in the mean number of dense core vesicles (DCVs) in the presynaptic compartment of excitatory synapses and an almost 20-fold increase in the number of DCVs in the presynaptic compartment of inhibitory synapses after 2 days treatment with the voltage-gated sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX). Short-term treatment with TTX and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) caused a 3-fold increase in the number of DCVs within 100 nm of the active zone area in excitatory synapses but had no significant effects on the overall number of DCVs. In contrast, there were very few DCVs in the postsynaptic compartments of both synapse types under all conditions. These results are consistent with a role for presynaptic DCVs in activity-dependent synapse maturation. We speculate that these accumulated DCVs can be released upon reactivation and may contribute to homeostatic metaplasticity.

SRC tyrosine kinases regulate neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells via modulation of voltage-gated sodium channel activity

Voltage-gated Na(+) channel activity is vital for the proper function of excitable cells and has been indicated in nervous system development. Meanwhile, the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases (SFKs) has been implicated in the regulation of Na(+) channel activity. The present investigation tests the hypothesis that Src family kinases influence neuronal differentiation via a chronic regulation of Na(+) channel functionality. In cultured mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells undergoing neural induction and terminal neuronal differentiation, SFKs showed distinct stage-specific expression patterns during the differentiation process. ES cell-derived neuronal cells expressed multiple voltage-gated Na(+) channel proteins (Nav) and underwent a gradual increase in Na(+) channel activity. While acute inhibition of SFKs using the Src family inhibitor PP2 suppressed the Na(+) current, chronic inhibition of SFKs during early neuronal differentiation of ES cells did not change Nav expression. However, a long-lasting block of SFK significantly altered electrophysiological properties of the Na(+) channels, shown as a right shift of the current-voltage relationship of the Na(+) channels, and reduced the amplitude of Na(+) currents recorded in drug-free solutions. Immunocytochemical staining of differentiated cells subjected to the chronic exposure of a SFK inhibitor, or the Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin, showed no changes in the number of NeuN-positive cells; however, both treatments significantly hindered neurite outgrowth. These findings suggest that SFKs not only modulate the Na(+) channel activation acutely, but the tonic activity of SFKs is also critical for normal development of functional Na(+) channels and neuronal differentiation or maturation of ES cells.

How do TTX and AP5 affect the post-recovery neuronal network activity synchronization?

A lot of methods were created in last decade for the spatio-temporal analysis of multi-electrode array (MEA) neuronal data sets. The greater part of these methods does not consider the network as a whole but performs an analysis channel by channel. In this paper we illustrate how a very simple approach that considers the total network activity, is able to show interesting neuronal network features. In particular we perform two different analyses: a connectivity examination studying networks at different days in vitro and an analysis of the long period effects of the administration of two common neuro-active drugs, i.e. TTX and AP5. Our analysis is performed considering burst topology, i.e. cataloguing network bursts as Global (if they involve more than the 25% of the MEA channels) or Local (if less that 25%). This division allows, in the first analysis, to understand the network connectivity (increasing from div 1 to 6) and decreasing till reaching a plateau (from div 6 to 10). The second analysis highlights a substantial difference between the long period effects of TTX and AP5. While TTX induces a massive Global activity explosion, sign of a prolonged inhibitory synapse depression, AP5 shows only a modest Local activity increase, mark of the low effect of NMDA receptors on a mature neuronal network without inputs.

Development of Neurons and Glial Cells in Cerebral Cortex, Cultured in the Presence or Absence of Bioelectric Activity: Morphological Observations

Chronic blockade of bioelectric activity (BEA) has been shown to increase neuronal cell death in tissue culture, but the effects of this treatment on non-neuronal cells have not been investigated. To determine which cell types are affected by chronic suppression of BEA, we investigated their morphological development in primary cultures of rat cerebral cortex, grown with or without the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX). Morphological development was monitored by phase-contrast microscopy and by immunofluorescent staining of markers specific for neurons (NSE, MAP2, B-50, and the 200 kD neurofilament protein), astrocytes (GFAP), oligodendrocytes (galactocerebroside), macrophages (ED-1) and fibroblasts (fibronectin). Neurons in control cultures steadily increased in size and elaborated a dense network of axons and dendrites during the first 3 weeks. Astrocytes proliferated strongly and formed a 'bottom-layer' on which other cells grew. Part of the astrocytes migrated into the peripheral area of the culture, but retracted to the centre after 14 days in vitro (DIV). Oligodendrocytes and macrophages also increased in number, but oligodendrocytes were completely lost by 28 DIV. After 3 weeks, axons that had grown into the periphery of the culture gradually retracted and/or degenerated, following the retracting astrocytes. Some of the neurons died after 21 DIV, but a large part persisted until 42 DIV. Upon TTX treatment from 5/6 DIV, cultures with few macrophages showed an increase in the proportion of necrotic nuclei at 14 and 21 DIV. The retraction of peripherally located fibres was accelerated by 3 - 4 days and their degeneration was augmented. Neuronal density decreased to zero between 21 and 42 DIV. Astrocytes showed a clear decrease in density from 28 DIV. Conversely, the density of macrophages was increased about two-fold from 14 DIV. These results indicate that both neurons and glia are affected by chronic TTX treatment.

Chronic Suppression of Bioelectric Activity and Cell Survival in Primary Cultures of Rat Cerebral Cortex: Biochemical Observations

Chronic suppression of spontaneously occurring bioelectric activity (BEA) has been shown to increase neuronal cell death in tissue culture, but may also affect astrocytes. We investigated this process in primary cultures of rat cerebral cortex by measuring the levels of NSE (neuron-specific enolase) and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) in relation to general tissue markers, including measurements for cell death and proliferation. In electrically active (control) cultures, the content of DNA, protein, and NSE became maximal between 21 and 28 days in vitro (DIV) and thereafter decreased, whereas the content of GFAP rose continuously up to 43 DIV. Chronic suppression of BEA by tetrodotoxin (TTX; from 6 DIV) decreased the content of DNA, total protein, and especially NSE. The content of GFAP was decreased in all culture series investigated, but with great temporal variations among culture series. Chronic TTX treatment (started at 6 DIV) increased the efflux of lactate dehydrogenase, a marker for cell lysis, between 12 and 21 DIV, but this efflux was mainly derived from the supporting glial cells with which the cerebral cortex cultures were cocultured. Chronic, but not acute (7 h) TTX treatment decreased total [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA from 14 DIV; this appeared to be due to a reduced number of astrocytes. Chronic suppression of BEA with xylocaine from 6 DIV had similar effects on DNA-, protein-, and NSE-content as TTX, but led to an increased content of GFAP at 21 DIV. Chronic suppression of synaptic transmission with 10 mM Mg2+ and 0.2 mM Ca2+, starting at 6 DIV, increased the content of DNA, protein, and GFAP at 21 DIV, but NSE was still decreased. We conclude that chronic suppression of BEA in cerebral cortex cultures enhances neuronal cell death, whereas astrocytes are differentially affected, depending on the suppressing agent. As astrocytes may have a modulating effect on neuronal survival, their involvement should be regarded when studying the effects of chronic suppression of BEA on neuronal development.

NRSF causes cAMP-sensitive suppression of sodium current in cultured hippocampal neurons

The neuron restrictive silencer factor (NRSF/REST) has been shown to bind to the promoters of many neuron-specific genes and is able to suppress transcription of Na(+) channels in PC12 cells, although its functional effect in terminally differentiated neurons is unknown. We constructed lentiviral vectors to express NRSF as a bicistronic message with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and followed infected hippocampal neurons in culture over a period of 1-2 wk. NRSF-expressing neurons showed a time-dependent suppression of Na(+) channel function as measured by whole cell electrophysiology. Suppression was reversed or prevented by the addition of membrane-permeable cAMP analogues and enhanced by cAMP antagonists but not affected by increasing protein expression with a viral enhancer. Secondary effects, including altered sensitivity to glutamate and GABA and reduced outward K(+) currents, were duplicated by culturing GFP-infected control neurons in TTX. The striking similarity of the phenotypes makes NRSF potentially useful as a genetic "silencer" and also suggests avenues of further exploration that may elucidate the transcription factor's in vivo role in neuronal plasticity.

Synaptic activity, induced rhythmic discharge patterns, and receptor subtypes in enriched primary cultures of embryonic rat motoneurones

Long-term cultures of ventral horn neurones from embryonic rat spinal cord were established, after enrichment using density gradient centrifugation, to give a high proportion of cells (>82%) with motoneurone characteristics. Neurones were grown on spinal cord glial monolayers for 4-83 days and investigated using whole-cell patch clamp. Synaptic activity interrupted by periods of quiescence increased in frequency with culture age and was suppressed by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and strychnine. However, strychnine (10 µM) or bicuculline (10-30 µM) or removal of Mg2+ alone induced patterned rhythmic bursting. Glutamate (3-300 µM), alpha -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA, 0.3-30 µM), and kainate (1-300 µM) evoked inward currents, as did N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA, 100 µM) in the absence of Mg2+ and presence of glycine (3-10 µM). Inward currents carried by Cl- were elicited by glycine (10-300 µM) and GABA (1-300 µM), while adenosine (1-10 µM) and cyclopentyladenosine (10 nM - 1 µM) evoked a K+-dependent hyperpolarization. 5-HT, GABAB, purine A, and metabotropic glutamate receptors modulated synaptic excitation of presumed motoneurones. The results suggest that long-term cultures, containing more than 82% developing motoneurones, are able to generate rhythmic bursting; they respond to many of the neurotransmitters that are likely to be released onto motoneurones developing in vivo.Key words: embryonic rat motoneurones, culture, amino acid receptors, adenosine, spinal cord.

Synchronization of neuronal activity promotes survival of individual rat neocortical neurons in early development

Neural activity is thought to play a significant role during the development of the cerebral cortex. In this study, we examined the effects of global activity block or enhancement and the effects of patterned firing on the ability of cultured rat neocortical neurons to survive during the second week in vitro, beyond the beginning of synaptogenesis. Blockade of neuronal activity by adding tetrodotoxin (TTX) and increasing magnesium concentration in the medium strongly reduced the survival of cortical cells. Increasing neuronal activity by raising the external potassium concentration significantly improved the survival of cortical neurons. We postulated that in a developing neuronal network the survival of nerve cells is regulated by synaptically mediated events that involve changes in the intracellular calcium concentration. To examine this question further, we monitored the activity of the developing network by optically recording the intracellular calcium signals of many neurons simultaneously. These recordings show that in low magnesium neocortical neurons express synchronized oscillation of their intracellular calcium concentration. The ability of a network to synchronize the changes in intracellular calcium of multiple cells appeared gradually during the second week in culture, paralleled by both an increase in the synaptic density and a decline in the number of surviving neurons. By examining the fate of identified cells several days after a recording session, we found that those nerve cells that were co-activated with other neurons had a significantly higher chance to survive than cells that did not participate in synchronized events. These experiments demonstrate that during early cortical network development cortical neurons show synchronized firing activity and that the survival of neurons is at least partially dependent on this pattern of neuronal activity.

Cultured basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in contact with cortical cells display synapses, enhanced morphological features, and decreased dependence on nerve growth factor

Prior studies examining the dependence of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival have reached differing conclusions depending on the experimental paradigm employed, suggesting the importance of environmental and developmental variables. The present study examined the NGF dependence of BFCNs and modulatory effects of target (cortical) neurons under the controlled conditions of dissociated cell cultures. Initial experiments found BFCNs (identified by using choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry) in pure basal forebrain (BF) cultures to be dependent on NGF between the 2nd and 4th week in vitro. During that developmental period, NGF deprivation for 3 days, induced by application of anti-NGF antibody, resulted in degeneration of over 80% of BFCNs, whereas at earlier or later times, BFCNs were largely resistant to NGF deprivation. When BF neurons were plated together with cortical neurons (as dissociated co-cultures), the BFCNs grew neuritic processes (labeled with acetylcholinesterase histochemistry) that appeared to specifically target cortical neurons; electron microscopy revealed that synapses formed between these cells. BFCNs in co-cultures were more resistant to NGF deprivation, were larger, and had much more extensive neuritic growth than BFCNs in pure BF cultures. The resistance of BFCNs to NGF deprivation provided by cortical neurons could be largely reproduced by addition of other trophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF; neurotrophin 3, NT3; neurotrophin 4/5, NT4/5; or glial-derived neurotrophic factor, GDNF) during NGF deprivation in pure BF cultures. These results suggest that developing BFCNs undergo a critical period requiring trophic influences that may be provided by NGF or other trophic factors, as well as unknown factors derived from cortical neurons.

Two Drosophila nervous system antigens, Nervana 1 and 2, are homologous to the beta subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase

A nervous system-specific glycoprotein antigen from adult Drosophila heads, designated Nervana (Nrv), has been purified on the basis of reactivity of its carbohydrate epitope(s) with anti-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) antibodies that are specific markers for Drosophila neurons. Anti-Nrv monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), specific for the protein moiety of Nrv, were used to screen a Drosophila embryo cDNA expression library. Three cDNA clones (designated Nrv1, Nrv2.1, and Nrv2.2) were isolated that code for proteins recognized by anti-Nrv mAbs on Western blots. DNA sequencing and Southern blot analyses established that the cDNA clones are derived from two different genes. In situ hybridization to Drosophila polytene chromosomes showed that the cDNA clones map to the third chromosome near 92C-D. Nrv1 and Nrv2.1/2.2 have open reading frames of 309 and 322/323 amino acids, respectively, and they are 43.4% identical at the amino acid level. The proteins deduced from these clones exhibit significant homology in both primary sequence and predicted topology to the beta subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase. Immunoaffinity-purified Nrv is associated with a protein (M(r) 100,000) recognized on Western blots by anti-ATPase alpha-subunit mAb. Our results suggest that the Drosophila nervous system-specific antigens Nrv1 and -2 are neuronal forms of the beta subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

Selective clustering of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors opposite terminals releasing the corresponding neurotransmitters

Several immunocytochemical and physiological studies have demonstrated a concentration of neurotransmitter receptors at postsynaptic sites on neurons, but an overall picture of receptor distribution has not emerged. In particular, it has not been clear whether receptor clusters are selectively localized opposite terminals that release the corresponding neurotransmitter. By using antibodies against the excitatory glutamate receptor subunit GluR1 and the inhibitory type A gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor beta 2/3 subunits, we show that these different receptor types cluster at distinct postsynaptic sites on cultured rat hippocampal neurons. The GABAA receptor beta 2/3 subunits clustered on cell bodies and dendritic shafts opposite GABAergic terminals, whereas GluR1 clustered mainly on dendritic spines and was associated with glutamatergic synapses. Chronic blockade of evoked transmitter release did not block receptor clustering at postsynaptic sites. These results suggest that complex mechanisms involving nerve terminal-specific signals are required to allow different postsynaptic receptor types to cluster opposite only appropriate presynaptic terminals.

The formation of glutamatergic synapses in cultured central neurons: selective increase in miniature synaptic currents

The formation of synapses between cultured rat thalamic neurons was studied with electrophysiological and immunocytochemical methods. Thalamic neurons in culture form predominantly glutamatergic synapses. Already after 3 days in vitro glutamatergic miniature EPSCs occurred spontaneously and their frequency was strongly increased after K+ depolarization, while GABAergic mIPSCs were found after K+ depolarization at lower frequency. This demonstrates that both, excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory GABAergic synapses were functional in close succession to initial neurite outgrowth. Synapses formed independent of spontaneous electrical activity, which was absent during the first week in culture. Spontaneous action potentials appeared during the second week and chronic action potential blockade by addition of tetrodotoxin reduced neuronal survival and the number of glutamatergic synapses per neuron. During in vitro differentiation the number of synapsin I immunoreactive presynaptic terminals and the frequency of spontaneous glutamatergic miniature EPSCs increased closely correlated, while the frequency of GABAergic mIPSCs after K+ depolarization did not increase. Thus, the continous formation of presynaptic terminals, including possible maturation of transmitter release, appeared to underlie the increase in mEPSC frequency. Analysis of miniature EPSC amplitudes at different stages in vitro revealed an increase in amplitudes, suggesting synaptic differentiation after initial establishment of functional transmission in glutamatergic synapses. This process was synapse specific as amplitudes of GABAergic mIPSCs were invariant.

Reduced cortical inhibitory synaptogenesis in organotypic cerebellar cultures developing in the absence of neuronal activity

Organotypic cerebellar cultures derived from newborn mice were continuously exposed to medium containing tetrodotoxin and elevated levels of magnesium to block all electrical activity. After 2 weeks in vitro, no activity was evident during the first 15-20 minutes following transfer to a recording medium without blocking agents. Thereafter, cortical discharge rates increased until a state of sustained hyperactivity was reached. Ultrastructural examination of such cultures revealed a reduction of inhibitory Purkinje cell somatic synapses to half the control value along with an even greater reduction of axodendritic synapses (largely inhibitory) in the cortical neuropil. No loss of axospinous synapses (excitatory) was evident. These results support the concept that spontaneous neuronal activity is necessary for the full development of inhibitory circuitry.

Single-channel currents trigger action potentials in small cultured hippocampal neurons

Spontaneous neuronal impulse activity appears to play a key role in some neural processes, such as the normal establishment of interneuronal connections during development. In addition, spontaneous impulses may be essential for the functional operation of neuronal networks. Mechanisms of spontaneous non-pacemaker impulse generation are, however, not well known. In this work, spontaneous electrical activity in small cultured hippocampal neurons from rat was studied with tight-seal recording techniques. The results demonstrate that spontaneous individual openings of single ion channels can trigger impulse generation in these high-resistance cells. First, impulses recorded in the whole-cell mode were apparently induced by spontaneous plateau-potential events showing the characteristics expected from individual openings and closures of ion channels. Second, patch-clamp recordings in the cell-attached configuration showed that openings of single ion channels in the patch membrane could trigger cellular impulses, detected as biphasic current deflections. These findings suggest that the random gating of ion channel molecules can be used as a mechanism for stochastic triggering of spontaneous impulses in mammalian central neurons.

Glycine conductance changes in chick spinal cord neurons developing in culture

Whole-cell glycine-activated currents were investigated in chick spinal cord neurons cultivated for up to three weeks. Based on the morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of neurons, two different types of nerve cells were distinguished during the first few days in culture. The first type consisted of "mature" nerve cells which appear to be motoneurons. They died by five to seven days in vitro. Immature neurons or neuroblasts constituted another type of nerve cell. They developed in culture and became differentiated neurons. Glycine-activated currents were elicited in both types of neurons during different periods in vitro. Sensitivity to glycine of "mature" neurons decreased from two to five days in vitro: ED50 for agonist action increased from 0.4 to 1.3 mM. The sensitivity of neuroblasts to this transmitter increased during differentiation: ED50 decreased from 1.4 to 0.12 mM on three to 14 days in vitro, respectively. Changes in glycine-activated conductance of these developing neurons were investigated later on. The conductance in differentiated neurons was markedly sensitive to membrane potential, while neuroblasts did not show such dependence. Voltage sensitivity was due to voltage-dependent kinetics of the ion channel. Desensitization kinetics of the glycine-activated currents were double-exponential. The time constant for the slow desensitizing component was dependent on glycine concentration, which was not the case for the fast component. The increase in glycine sensitivity of the neuroblasts was accompanied by deceleration of desensitization kinetics of the agonist-activated currents. A remarkable feature of the currents elicited in neuroblasts was their extremely long time course after rapid agonist removal from the cells. The properties of these long-term currents suggest that a large fraction of the receptors are desensitized, even during quite short applications of the transmitter. The presence of glycine in the culture medium did not affect the increase of neuronal sensitivity to the agonist. The block of spontaneous bioelectric activity by adding tetrodotoxin to the culture medium abolished developmental changes in glycine-activated conductance. Possible mechanisms for the changes in transmitter sensitivity of the neurons are considered.

Effects of spontaneous bioelectric activity and gangliosides on cell survival in vitro

Chronic suppression of spontaneous bioelectric activity in spinal cord explants in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX) during network formation caused a large reduction in cell number (lowered DNA levels). The addition of gangliosides failed to protect against this cell loss. Conversely, the omission of galactose from the growth medium had no effect on DNA levels. It was concluded that the presence or absence of afferent selectivity is unlikely to require the survival of a regionally specific subpopulation of preferred dorsal root ganglion target cells. Neocortical explants also showed a large reduction in DNA levels following chronic TTX treatment, and morphometric analysis confirmed that neuronal survival was affected to the same degree. Chronic ganglioside supplementation failed to influence DNA and cell counts in either control or TTX-treated explants, but one of the added gangliosides (GD1a) stimulated extensive neuritic outgrowth in electrically silenced cultures. Particular ganglioside species, therefore, may exert a growth stimulating influence that can partially compensate for the absence of bioelectric self-stimulation during early development.

Both survival and development of spontaneously active rat hypothalamic neurons in dissociated culture are dependent on membrane depolarization

Suppression of endogenous electrical activity was found to have an adverse effect on the survival and bioelectric development of dissociated, embryonic rat hypothalamic neurons in long-term culture. Cultures were treated during the first two weeks in vitro with tetrodotoxin (TTX), a selective blocker of voltage-gated sodium channels, alone and in combination with high extracellular KCl ([K+]o), a membrane depolarizer. Neuron survival was assessed through cell counting experiments, while the development of spontaneous electrical activity was examined with extracellular, patch-electrode recordings. TTX caused both a decrease in cell survival and a decrease in spontaneously active cells; concurrent treatment with K+ protected cells from the adverse effects of TTX. K+ treatment alone increased the fraction of spontaneously active neurons without significantly affecting cell survival. When taken together, these results suggest that the long-term survival of active cells depends on continual membrane depolarization. From these observations, we conclude that there exists two populations of neurons: the electrically active population, whose survival is sensitive to electrical activity, and the quiescent population, whose survival is not.

Effect of chronic exposure to high magnesium on neuron survival in long-term neocortical explants of neonatal rats in vitro

In order to assess the effect of elevated magnesium, neuronal morphology and physiology was studied in chronically cultured organotypic neonatal rat occipital neocortex. Explants grown in 10 mM magnesium were found to experience an approximate 30% cell loss (as shown by cell count and DNA-protein analysis), while 12.5 and 15 mM magnesium showed ca. 47 and 60% cell losses, respectively. Intracellular recording from 10 mM magnesium explants revealed that measurable postsynaptic potentials and action potentials could occur, apparently depending on the type of cell examined. All post-synaptic activities ceased in 12.5 mM magnesium cultures, though action potentials could be elicited by current stimulation. The effects of known depolarizing agents, viz. potassium and N-methyl-D-aspartate, on 12.5 mM magnesium-grown explants were also examined. Explants grown in the presence of 12.5 mM magnesium plus 10 mM potassium showed a dramatic increase in the loss of neurons. The simultaneous addition of 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione showed this to be due to an increase in non-N-methyl-D-aspartate mediated cell death in response to glutamate release brought about by the depolarizing effects of the potassium. The addition of 10 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate to 12.5 mM magnesium-grown cultures, on the other hand, improved cell survival to control levels. The mechanism of this reciprocal neuroprotective effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate against magnesium has yet to be elucidated. We conclude that these findings are consistent with regard to the opposing actions of N-methyl-D-aspartate and magnesium on calcium influx and various metabolic processes within the explants.

Chronic blockade of bioelectric activity in neonatal rat cortex grown in vitro: morphological effects

Culture thickness, numerical density of neurons and neuronal survival were studied in timed series of control and tetrodotoxin-silenced neocortical cultures to provide information on the role of bioelectric activity on neuronal development. In control cultures, culture thickness and number of surviving neurons decrease during the first weeks in vitro, but remain constant between 2 and 3 weeks indicating that the cultures are essentially mature. In the 4th week in vitro a further decrease in surviving neurons was observed. In tetrodotoxin-treated cultures the number of surviving neurons decreased significantly between 1 and 2 weeks in vitro, to remain constant thereafter. However, culture thickness significantly increased at 3 and 4 weeks in vitro after an initial drop between 1 and 2 weeks. Compared to age-matched controls at 2 and 3 weeks in vitro, only ca 50% of the neurons survived the loss of bioelectric activity. Similar differences were present between 1 and 2 weeks. Thus, the loss of all measurable bioelectric activity induces neuronal death in neocortical explants, but promotes neuropil formation by the surviving cells.

Elevated potassium prevents neuronal death but inhibits network formation in neocortical cultures

Chronic depolarization is inimical to neuronal growth and synaptogenesis so that spontaneous action potential generation appears to be required for the normal cytomorphological maturation of neocortical networks. The efficacy of 25 mM K in suppressing spontaneous bioelectric activity was monitored by extra- and intracellular recording from the explants. Intracellular recording from individual neurons showed that membrane potentials were reduced to ca -30 mV in potassium cultures but rapidly repolarized to ca -50 mV when returned to normal growth medium. Though action potentials could be readily evoked from these explants, spontaneous discharges and postsynaptic potentials were absent from potassium-treated cultures. Both spontaneous bioelectric activity and postsynaptic potentials returned to the cultures by 5 days after returning the explants to normal growth medium. Extracellular recordings also showed that the explants were bioelectrically silent in the presence of 25 mM K or 25 mM K plus tetrodotoxin. In contrast to tetrodotoxin alone, bioelectric activity was absent when the cultures (with or without tetrodotoxin) were returned to normal growth medium. The explants gradually began to evince spontaneous bioelectric activity between 3 and 5 days after being returned to normal growth medium. Massive cell death induced by chronic exposure to tetrodotoxin was totally prevented by concomitant addition of 25 mM potassium, though these explants were significantly thinner than controls due to a large decrease in neuropil. We conclude that chronic depolarization of neonatal cortical explants by potassium results in a delayed return of spontaneous bioelectric discharges. Chronic depolarization results in a retardation of network formation in these explants apparently due to a lack of neurite and/or synapse formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor: effects on an overlapping population of neocortical neurons in vitro

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have trophic effects on rat neocortical neurons in vitro. Concentration-response studies reveal that EGF maximally stimulates neuronal survival and process outgrowth at approximately 10 ng/ml, while the maximal effect of bFGF is seen at 10-30 ng/ml. Treatment with maximal concentrations of bFGF results in cultures containing a greater number of neurons with long processes, as well as greater branching of processes, than does treatment with EGF. When EGF and bFGF are added together to cultures the effects are not additive. In addition, bFGF is capable of supporting the survival of neurons previously treated with EGF. These findings indicate that EGF and bFGF affect a largely overlapping population of neocortical neurons, but that bFGF may be a more effective trophic agent for these cells.

Factors regulating the expression of acetylcholinesterase-containing neurons in striatal cultures: effects of chemical depolarization

The influence of chemical depolarization on the survival and differentiation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing neurons was examined in primary rat striatal cultures, maintained in different types of media (serum-free and serum-supplemented) and substrate (poly-ornithine and astrocyte monolayer). Chronic application of 5 microM veratridine resulted in a significant loss of neurites by AChE-positive cells, while a higher concentration (20 microM) reduced the number of stained cell bodies. These effects appeared to be selective with regard to AChE-positive cells, as indicated by morphological observations of the cells in the treated cultures and receptor binding measurements. Similarly, elevation of extracellular KCl levels (20-60 mM) produced a dose-dependent neurite loss by AChE-containing cells. Blockers of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels--verapamil (1 microM) and nifedipine (1 microM)--did not affect the veratridine-induced neurite loss, while tetrodotoxin (0.1 microM) had a partial effect. When cultures treated with 5 microM veratridine were allowed to recuperate for several days, the number of AChE-positive cells possessing neurites returned close to control values, thus indicating the reversibility of the effect of chemical depolarization. The possibility that chronic neuronal depolarization in the striatum might play a role in regulation of the neuronal processes outgrowth by AChE-containing cells is discussed.

Eliminating afferent impulse activity does not alter the dendritic branching of the amphibian Mauthner cell

In the developing amphibian, the formation of extra vestibular contacts on the Mauthner cell (M-cell) enhances dendritic branching, while deprivation reduces it (Goodman and Model, 1988a). The mechanism underlying the interaction between afferent fibers and developing dendritic branches is not known; neural activity may be an essential component of the stimulating effect. We examined the role of afferent impulse activity in the regulation of M-cell dendritic branching in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) embryo. M-cells occur as a pair of large, uniquely identifiable neurons in the axolotl medulla. Synapses from the ipsilateral vestibular nerve (nVIII) are restricted to a highly branched region of the M-cell lateral dendrite. We varied the amount of nVIII innervation and eliminated neural activity. First, unilateral transplantation of a vestibular primordium deprived some M-cells of nVIII innervation and superinnervated others. Second, surgical fusion of axolotls to TTX-harboring California newt (Taricha torosa) embryos paralyzed the Ambystoma twin: voltage-sensitive Na+ channel blockade by TTX eliminated action potential propagation. Reconstruction of M-cells in 18 mm larvae revealed that dendritic growth was influenced by in-growing axons even in the absence of incoming impulses: impulse blockade had no effect on the stimulation of dendritic growth by the afferent fibers.

Paralysis of innervated cultured human muscle fibers affects enzymes differentially

Increased accumulation of muscle-specific isozyme (MSI) of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glycogen phosphorylase (GP), and phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) occurs with development and indicates muscle fiber maturation. The expression of MSIs of those four enzymes is greatly enhanced in innervated-contracting as compared to noninnervated and noncontracting cultured human muscle fibers. We have now studied the effect of contractile activity on developmental accumulation of MSIs in innervated-contracting, innervated-paralyzed (2 microM tetrodotoxin for 30 days), and noninnervated-noncontracting cultured human muscle fibers. Muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and total enzyme activities were also studied under the same conditions. We observed a different dependency on contractile activity between total enzymatic activities of CK, LDH, and AChE, which were substantially reduced after paralysis, and GP and PGAM, which were unchanged. The expression of MSIs of CK, GP, PGAM, and LDH was always significantly increased in innervated as compared to noninnervated fibers. While the expression of MSIs of GP and PGAM was the same in contracting-innervated and paralyzed-innervated muscle fibers, the expression of MSIs of CK and LDH in paralyzed-innervated muscle fibers was very slightly decreased as compared to their contracting-innervated controls. Our studies demonstrate that in human muscle: (1) total enzymatic activities and the expression of MSIs of GP and PGAM are regulated by neuronal effect(s); (2) total enzymatic activities of CK, LDH, and AChE depend mainly on muscle contractile activity; and (3) MSIs of CK and LDH are regulated predominantly by neuronal factors and to a much lesser degree by muscle contractile activity.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors influence neuronal survival in developing spinal cord cultures

Neuronal cell death, which exhibits precise spatial and temporal regulation, serves to remodel and optimize function in the developing nervous system. The mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death are poorly understood, but electrical activity and trophic substances appear to be among the important determinants of survival. We find that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists induce neuronal cell death in developing spinal cord cultures. The magnitude of cell death is similar in amount to that produced by blocking action potentials with tetrodotoxin (TTX). The NMDA antagonists and TTX accelerate neuronal death in 2-week-old cultures but not in those that are 1 month old. Low concentrations of NMDA increased neuronal survival under conditions of electrical blockade with TTX. In addition, treatment with low levels of a calcium ionophore also decreased cell death associated with TTX. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor is an important determinant of neuronal survival and that this influence is stage-dependent and likely to be calcium-mediated.

Multi-determinate regulation of neuronal survival: neuropeptides, excitatory amino acids and bioelectric activity

Neuronal survival of dorsal root ganglion-spinal cord cultures was determined after treatment with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and an antagonist to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA). Blockade of NMDA receptors with 2-amino 5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) produced a biphasic response on neuronal survival: low concentrations (0.1 microM) resulting in greater survival and higher concentrations (100 microM) causing cell death. VIP, a substance with demonstrated neurotrophic properties in vitro, prevented the neuronal cell death associated with high concentrations of AP5, while having no additive effect on the survival-promoting action of low levels of AP5. Electrophysiological studies indicated that AP5, although reducing high frequency bursting activity, did not significantly reduce the abundant on-going asynchronous activity present in these cultures of high density neuronal networks. These data indicate that excitatory amino acids have more than one action that can influence neuronal survival during development and that VIP can increase neuronal survival in bioelectrically active cultures when NMDA channels are blocked. Together with previous studies, these data suggest that multiple neurochemical inputs serve to determine the survival of spinal cord neurons during development, perhaps through one final common pathway: intracellular calcium regulation.

Divergent effects of acute depolarization on somatostatin release and protein synthesis in cultured fetal and neonatal rat brain cells

The influence of membrane depolarization on somatostatin secretion and protein synthesis by fetal and neonatal cerebrocortical neurons was studied. Cortical cells obtained by mechanical dispersion were maintained as monolayer cultures for 8 days. The ability of fetal cerebrocortical and hypothalamic cells to release immunoreactive somatostatin (IR-SRIF) was confirmed. Total protein synthesis was determined by the incorporation of [3H]phenylalanine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable proteins. To study the effect of acute depolarization on protein synthesis, cells were incubated for 30 min with [3H]phenylalanine or [3H]leucine and the depolarizing agent. In fetal cerebrocortical cells, potassium (30 and 56 mM) decreased protein synthesis and RNA levels and increased IR-SRIF release. Depolarization by veratridine, a sodium channel activator, induced a similar effect. The effect of veratridine on IR-SRIF and protein synthesis was reversed by tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, or verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. These findings suggest that protein synthesis by cerebrocortical cells is decreased in fetal brain cells by membrane depolarization and is dependent on Na+ and Ca2+ entry into cells. In postnatal (day 7) cerebrocortical cells, depolarization induced by high potassium concentrations led to a concomitant increase in protein synthesis, RNA content, and somatostatin release. These findings indicate that depolarization of the cellular membrane is coupled to an increase in protein synthesis in neonatal, but not in fetal, dispersed brain cells.

Electrophysiology and ultrastructure of mouse hypothalamic neurons in culture: a correlative analysis during development

The development of the electrical activity of hypothalamic neurons in dissociated cell cultures obtained from 14 day old mice foetuses was studied using patch extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. Electrophysiological data were compared with morphological observations obtained by electron microscopy. During patch recording, excitability of the cells was tested by the application of a 40 mM KCl solution. Tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10(-6) M in the delivery pipette) and Co2+ (10(-2) M in the delivery pipette) were applied to the recorded cell by pressure in order to study the involvement of sodium and calcium currents in the electrical activity during the in vitro development. From the first day of incubation, TTX and Co2+ were able to block reversibly the spontaneous electrical activity. However, only TTX application inhibited action potentials which suggests that calcium currents could be poorly involved in the action potential generation at the beginning of neuronal differentiation. Three different phases were found in the electrophysiological development of hypothalamic neurons in culture. The first phase (between the 1st and the 5th day of incubation) was characterized by an increase in the ratio of the spontaneously active cells (15% at day 1 and 90% at day 5). This increase paralleled the increase of the ratio of excitable cells. During this period no post-synaptic activity was detected. Morphologically, at 36 h, no synaptic contact was observed and growth cones were found to be very primitive. The second phase, between the 6th and the 9th day of culture, was characterized by a decrease in the ratio of spontaneously active cells and by the appearance, in a few cases, of a postsynaptic potential activity. During this phase the majority of the silent cells were excitable. At this stage neurons formed well differentiated neurites and growth cones. Synaptogenesis had already started and several stages of synapse formation could be seen. The third phase of the development, from 10 days of incubation, was characterized by an increase in post synaptic potential activity. During this period, numerous mature synapses could be observed although most of the synaptic contacts were located on neurites. In addition, some synapses were apposed onto degenerated structures. In conclusion, hypothalamic neurons in culture appear to differentiate in 3 steps: a primitive stage during which spontaneous electrical activity and excitability develop without any synaptic contact; a 2nd stage during which synaptic contacts develop, followed by a third stage of synapse maturation where mature synapses are formed whereas transient synapses degenerate.

Effects of chronic phenobarbital exposure on cultured mouse spinal cord neurons

The anticonvulsant phenobarbital (PB), at concentrations of 20, 40, and 90 micrograms/ml, was chronically applied to cell cultures of mouse spinal cord from day 2 or day 14 after initial plating, and the effects of this exposure on neuronal density and morphological characteristics were determined. Neuronal morphological characteristics were analyzed quantitatively following intracellular injection of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow. Cultures exposed to PB for 6 weeks, from day 14 after plating, showed concentration-dependent reductions in neuronal density; both large and small neurons were equally affected. PB exposure also reduced dendritic branching frequency, and the length of dendrites, of remaining large neurons. A higher percentage of these neurons had a bipolar branching pattern than was normally the case. Neurons in cultures exposed to PB from day 2 after plating, compared with those exposed from day 14, showed significantly less alteration in terms of density and morphological characteristics. Effects on neuronal morphological characteristics increased with duration of drug exposure. Equimolar concentrations of barbituric acid produced effects similar to those produced by PB. Chronic exposure to PB adversely affects survival and morphological characteristics of mammalian central neurons grown in cell culture. Curiously, exposure from the time of initial plating appears to be less deleterious than exposure initiated 2 weeks later. To the extent that neuronal development in vitro can be compared to the situation in vivo, these results, and those of other investigators, raise concerns about long-term exposure of the developing human nervous system to PB.

Isolated hippocampal neurons in cryopreserved long-term cultures: development of neuroarchitecture and sensitivity to NMDA

Isolated neurons in long-term culture provide a unique opportunity to address important problems in neuronal development. In the present study we established conditions for cryopreservation and long-term primary culture of isolated embryonic hippocampal neurons. This culture system was then used for initial characterizations of the development of neuroarchitecture and neurotransmitter response systems. Cryoprotection with 8% dimethylsulfoxide, slow freezing, and rapid thawing provided high-yield cultures which appeared normal in terms of cell types, mitotic ability, axonal and dendritic outgrowth, and sensitivity to glutamate neurotoxicity. A reduced medium volume and moderate elevation in extracellular K+ to 20 mM promoted survival of isolated neurons through 3 weeks of culture. The outgrowth of axons and dendrites in pyramidal-like neurons was found to differ over a 3-week culture period such that axons continued to grow at a relatively constant rate while dendritic outgrowth slowed during the second week and ceased by the end of week 3. Developmental changes were also observed in the sensitivity of pyramidal neurons to glutamate neurotoxicity; functional kainate/quisqualate receptors were present during the first week of culture, while responses to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) did not appear until the second week. The technologies for cryopreservation and long-term culture of isolated hippocampal neurons reported here provide a useful system in which to address a variety of problems in development neuroscience.

Nonneuronal cells mediate neurotrophic action of vasoactive intestinal peptide

The developmental regulation of neuronal survival by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was investigated in dissociated spinal cord-dorsal root ganglion (SC-DRG) cultures. Previous studies demonstrated that VIP increased neuronal survival in SC-DRG cultures when synaptic transmission was blocked with tetrodotoxin (TTX). This effect was further investigated to determine if VIP acted directly on neurons or via nonneuronal cells. For these studies, SC-DRG cells were cultured under conditions designed to provide preparations enriched for a particular cell type: astrocyte-enriched background cell (BG) cultures, meningeal fibroblast cultures, standard mixed neuron-nonneuron (STD) cultures, and neuron-enriched (N) cultures. Addition of 0.1 nM VIP to TTX-treated STD cultures for 5 d prevented the TTX-mediated death and the death that occurred naturally during development in culture, whereas the same treatment on N cultures did not prevent neuronal cell death. Conditioned medium from VIP-stimulated BG cultures prevented neuronal cell death when added to the medium (10% of total volume) of N cultures treated with TTX. The same amount of conditioned medium from BG cultures that were not treated with VIP had no protective action on N cultures. Conditioned medium from N or meningeal fibroblast cultures, either with or without VIP treatment, did not prevent TTX-mediated cell death in N test cultures. These data indicate that VIP increases the availability of neurotrophic survival-promoting substances derived from nonneuronal cultures, the most likely source being astroglial cells. This study suggests that VIP has a role in mediating a neuron-glia-neuron interaction that influences the trophic regulation of neuronal survival.

Target cell stimulation of dissociated serotonergic neurons in culture

Dissociated mesencephalic raphe cells from fetal rats (14-18 days) were grown in culture in 96 well Linbro plates. The maturation of serotonergic cells was qualitatively studied using immunocytochemistry with a serotonin antibody and quantitatively by measuring the retention of radioactivity following incubation in the presence of a low concentration of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (6 X 10(-8) M). The 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive neurons showed specific staining in the perikaryon, nucleus, dendrites, axons and growth cones. These neurons formed varicose fibers and growth cones after 18 h in culture and survived for up to 21 days in culture. Each serotonergic neuron concentrated approximately 1 fmol of serotonin after 20 min of incubation. Maturation of mesencephalic serotonergic neurons was increased in co-cultures of both normal (hippocampus, cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb and striatum) and abnormal (spinal cord) target neurons. The best stimulation was produced by dissociated hippocampal neurons (14-18 days of gestation) on mesencephalic raphe cells (14 days of gestation) after 4 days in culture. This stimulation was seen in culture conditions which favored neuronal but not glial survival. Our results obtained using cultures of dissociated serotonergic cells are consistent with an expansive network pattern developed by this chemical transmitter system in the adult brain.

Some functional effects of suppressing bioelectric activity in fetal mouse spinal cord-dorsal root ganglion explants

Organotypic explants of fetal mouse spinal cord-dorsal root ganglia were grown for 3 weeks in the presence of 10 mM magnesium ion, which effectively eliminated all recordable bioelectric activity throughout the culturing period. When tested in minimal essential medium, the chronically silenced explants had significantly fewer points from which spontaneous neuronal activity could be recorded. In addition, fewer points could be found that showed dorsal root ganglion-evoked responses, resulting from a greater tendency for the spinal cord activity to be restricted to the vicinity of the dorsally entering DRG fibers. These findings, therefore, support the hypothesis that spontaneous bioelectric activity is required for functional as well as structural maturation of neural networks.

Tetanus toxin in dissociated spinal cord cultures: long-term characterization of form and action

The clinical course of tetanus is notable, in addition to its often dramatic clinical presentation, by the long duration of the neuromuscular symptoms. Survivors may have tetanic manifestations for several weeks after the onset of the disease. In this article we correlate the duration of specific electrophysiologic effects produced by tetanus toxin with the degradation of cell-associated toxin in primary cultures of mouse spinal cord neurons. From these studies we can conclude that the toxin has a half-life of 5-6 days. Both the heavy and the light chains of tetanus toxin degrade at similar rates. Labeled toxin, visualized by radioautography, is associated with neuronal cell bodies and neurites, and its distribution is not altered during a 1-week period following toxin exposure. Blockade of synaptic activity persists for weeks at the concentration of radiolabeled toxin used in these studies. This blockade of transmission is reversed as the toxin is degraded, suggesting that degradation of toxin may be a sufficient mechanism for recovery from tetanus.

Gangliosides restore the specificity of afferent projection patterns in spinal cord explants chronically exposed to tetrodotoxin

Sensory afferent projection patterns within organotypic explants of fetal mouse spinal cord-dorsal root ganglia (SC-DRG) were mapped out histologically using an HRP-staining method. Cultures grown in tetrodotoxin-containing medium with added gangliosides, in contrast to those grown without the addition of these compounds, showed preferential DRG innervation of the dorsal half of the cord. It therefore appears that gangliosides can compensate for the absence of functional activity during the development of selective innervation patterns.

Functional development of the prenatal brain. II. Ontogeny of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial axis in the pre- and perinatal chicken brain

The present paper investigates the ontogeny of connective patterns in the brain of the 17-, 17.5-, and 18-day-old chicken embryo and in the newborn chicken as well. From the onset of electrical activity, neurophysiological properties of neurones undergo significant changes during further development. Total duration of action potentials decreases (p less than 0.001) between day 17 of incubation and day one of life. The percentage of spontaneously active neurones increases significantly (p less than 0.01) from 20% on day 17 to 69% in the newborn chick. For the same time period mean conduction velocity of presumed non-myelinated fibers in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial-tract increases by about 50%. On the other hand, mean constant latency decreases from 20 ms in the 17-day-old embryo to 15.5 ms in the newborn chick (p less than 0.001). Changes in threshold intensity to antidromic stimulation and the increasing number of identifiable neurones per embryo indicate that new cell populations may become excitable during development. The results show, that considerable maturational events take place in action potential properties of the magnocellular system during late embryonal and early postnatal life of the chicken.

Synaptogenesis in rat cerebral cortex cultures is affected during chronic blockade of spontaneous bioelectric activity by tetrodotoxin

Reaggregated occipital cortex cells of 19-day-old fetal rats were grown in a serum-free, chemically defined medium, and chronically exposed to impulse-blocking levels of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in order to study the role of bioelectric activity in synaptogenesis. As judged by phase-contrast microscopy, no differences were noticed in the development of neuronal networks in the TTX-treated vs control cultures. In addition, when TTX was withdrawn from experimental cultures at any stage of development, bioelectric activity qualitatively comparable to that of the control cultures appeared within 1 min. However, quantitative stereological EM analysis revealed a significant retardation in synapse formation and ultrastructural maturation of synaptic junctions during the first 3 weeks. Around 23 days in vitro, the central zone of the reaggregates in control cultures started to degenerate, but not earlier then day 27 in TTX-treated cultures. During this time, the control, but not the experimental cultures showed (in intact tissue regions mainly situated at the outside of the aggregates) a large and selective loss of spine synapses. It is concluded that functional blockade not only retards the early growth and maturation of synaptic networks but also prevents the later occurring selective loss of spine synapses.

Thyroid hormone metabolism in primary cultures of fetal rat brain cells

The metabolism of thyroxine 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine, (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) was studied in primary cultures of dispersed fetal rat brain cells. Cultured brain cells actively metabolized both T4 and T3 by enzyme catalyzed deiodination reactions which increase (type II 5'-deiodinase) or decrease (type I 5'-deiodinase and type III 5-deiodinase) the bioactivity of thyroid hormone. Homogenates of cultured brain cells showed both type I and type II 5'-deiodinating activities and these two enzymes tended to differ in their time course of appearance. Cultures exposed to 10 microM cytosine arabinoside for 16 h showed up to a 70% reduction in type I activity without decreasing the type II enzyme suggesting that the type II enzyme is associated with non-dividing neuronal cells. The predominant pathway for T4 and T3 metabolism in situ was tyrosyl-ring or type III 5'-deiodination which followed first order kinetics with a t1/2 of 70 min. T4 to T3 conversion by the type II enzyme was consistently observed after correcting for the degradation of newly formed T3 by the type III enzyme. In situ, both type II and type II enzymes were thiol-dependent and both activities were inhibited by iopanoic acid. Type III 5-deiodination of T4 produced 34 fmol 3,3,5'-triiodothyronine (rT3)/h per 10(6) cells at 10 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 97 fmol of rT3/h per 10(6) cells at 50 mM DTT. T3 production by the type II enzyme was 1.2 and 4.4 fmol of T3/h per 10(6) cells at 10 and 50 mM DTT, respectively. Thyroid hormone deficient culture conditions increased type II enzyme activity by 4-5-fold within 48 h and this was prevented in a dose-dependent fashion by supplementing the media with increasing amounts of T3. These data indicate that primary cultures of dispersed brain cells mimic the intact cerebral cortex with respect to the metabolism of thyroid hormone and the regulatory mechanisms which defend cerebrocortical T3 levels. The vigorous metabolism of both T4 and T3 by these cultures may explain some of the difficulties in demonstrating thyroid hormone-dependent biochemical changes at physiologically relevant levels of thyroid hormone.