Auditory brainstem neurons as components of a biohybrid system
type: CreativeWork
description: Neuronal cell culture systems have many advantages for studies on cellular and smallscale network level. But a conceptual problem in analysing functional neuronal networks in dissociated cultures is, that no biological function can be attributed to the system. Thus, no prediction of the output of the circuit after a given input can be made. This dilemma can be solved with the approach to reconstruct a neuronal network in vitro after a model circuit of known biological function. The sound localisation circuit from the auditory brainstem of birds is an ideal candidate for this. It consist of two neuronal populations (Nucl. magnocellularis, NM and Nucl. laminaris, NL), which are highly specialised in their physiology. The embryonic development of these nuclei and their connections have already been studied in vivo. This study was undertaken to prove that neurons from the auditory brainstem of the chicken can be taken into a primary culture and to characterise their properties in vitro. This knowledge provides the basis for later attempts to reconstruct the NM/NL circuit as a biohybrid system. Neurons from NM and NL were excised at an early stage of development (E6.5) and cultivated for up to 15 days in vitro. The cells in the culture formed networks of neurites, expressed neuronal marker proteins and differentiated into dendritic and axonal compartments. The outgrowth of the neurites could be successfully guided with micro-contact printed protein structures. Moreover, the neurons were compatible with metal/semiconductor surfaces as culture substrate, if coated with protein. I could show that about one third of the neurons expressed calretinin, a more specific marker of auditory brainstem neurons. This was true for neurons from the chicken as well as barn owl brain of corresponding developmental stages. Also, a smaller amount of neurons were found to be positive for specialised voltage gated potassium channels. A significant maturation of basic membrane properties (rest…
abstract: Neuronal cell culture systems have many advantages for studies on cellular and smallscale network level. But a conceptual problem in analysing functional neuronal networks in dissociated cultures is, that no biological function can be attributed to the system. Thus, no prediction of the output of the circuit after a given input can be made. This dilemma can be solved with the approach to reconstruct a neuronal network in vitro after a model circuit of known biological function. The sound localisation circuit from the auditory brainstem of birds is an ideal candidate for this. It consist of two neuronal populations (Nucl. magnocellularis, NM and Nucl. laminaris, NL), which are highly specialised in their physiology. The embryonic development of these nuclei and their connections have already been studied in vivo. This study was undertaken to prove that neurons from the auditory brainstem of the chicken can be taken into a primary culture and to characterise their properties in vitro. This knowledge provides the basis for later attempts to reconstruct the NM/NL circuit as a biohybrid system. Neurons from NM and NL were excised at an early stage of development (E6.5) and cultivated for up to 15 days in vitro. The cells in the culture formed networks of neurites, expressed neuronal marker proteins and differentiated into dendritic and axonal compartments. The outgrowth of the neurites could be successfully guided with micro-contact printed protein structures. Moreover, the neurons were compatible with metal/semiconductor surfaces as culture substrate, if coated with protein. I could show that about one third of the neurons expressed calretinin, a more specific marker of auditory brainstem neurons. This was true for neurons from the chicken as well as barn owl brain of corresponding developmental stages. Also, a smaller amount of neurons were found to be positive for specialised voltage gated potassium channels. A significant maturation of basic membrane properties (rest…
author: Künzel, Thomas
language: eng
keywords: info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/570, Zelldifferenzierung, Neurobiologie, Hirnstamm, Auditorisches System, Zellkultur, Elektrophysiologie, Biokompatibilität, Biowissenschaften, Biologie, biohybrid technology, potassium channels, synaptogenesis
date published: 2007
date modified: 2026-07-30T19:43:28Z
provider: RWTH Aachen University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University