Evaluation of in vitro neuronal networks for the study of spontaneous activity

Abstract

In the absence of external stimuli, the nervous system exhibits a spontaneous electrical activity whose functions are not fully understood, and that represents the background noise of brain operations. Spontaneous activity has been proven to arise not only in vivo, but in in vitro neuronal networks as well, following some stereotypical patterns that reproduce the time course of development of the mammalian nervous system. This review provides an overview of in vitro models for the study of spontaneous network activity, discussing their ability to reproduce in vivo - like dynamics and the main findings obtained with each particular model. While explanted brain slices are able to reproduce the neuronal oscillations typically observed in anaesthetized animals, dissociated cultures allow the use of patient-derived neurons and limit the number of animals used for sample preparation.

Resveratrol, a SIRT1 Activator, Ameliorates MK-801-Induced Cognitive and Motor Impairments in a Neonatal Rat Model of Schizophrenia

“…It has been reported that, postnatal day 7 to day 14 is a crucial period for the development of nervous system and the expression of NMDA receptor in rodents ( 21 ). Signaling pathways which contain NMDA receptor have critical functions in learning, memory, cognition, locomotion, and synaptic plasticity ( 22 – 25 ). Since the administration of NMDA antagonists, including MK-801, during the first three weeks after birth can induce several core symptoms of schizophrenia, these antagonists are widely used in the construction of rodent schizophrenia models ( 26 ).…”