Abstract
We have provided a detailed protocol for the preparation of interface hippocampal slice cultures from young mice or rats and have included modifications of the protocol necessary for culturing electrophysiologically viable slices from older animals. In addition to providing key points for successful measurements of synaptic function using electrophysiology, we have discussed approaches for studying models of neurological disease with hippocampal slice cultures. Future combination of the unique types of measurements afforded in slice cultures combined with the use of transgenic animals, exogenous reagent application, viral transfection, and the option to use slices from animals of different ages, promise to provide continued advances in understanding neural network phenotypes that may underlie neurological disease.
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Madison, D. V. and E. B. Edson (2001). “Preparation of hippocampal brain slices.” Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 6: Unit 6 4.
Bliss, T. V. and C. D. Richards (1971). “Some experiments with in vitro hippocampal slices.” J Physiol 214(1): 7P–9P.
Gahwiler, B. H. (1981). “Organotypic monolayer cultures of nervous tissue.” J Neurosci Methods 4(4): 329–42.
Bagal, A. A., J. P. Kao, et al. (2005). “Long-term potentiation of exogenous glutamate responses at single dendritic spines.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(40): 14434–9.
Stoppini, L., P. A. Buchs, et al. (1991). “A simple method for organotypic cultures of nervous tissue.” J Neurosci Methods 37(2): 173–82.
Gahwiler, B. H., S. M. Thompson, et al. (2001). “Preparation and maintenance of organotypic slice cultures of CNS tissue.” Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 6 Unit 6 11.
Hanson, J. E., M. Blank, et al. (2007). “The functional nature of synaptic circuitry is altered in area CA3 of the hippocampus in a mouse model of Down’s syndrome.” J Physiol 579(Pt 1): 53–67.
Pfeiffer, B. E. and K. M. Huber (2007). “Fragile X mental retardation protein induces synapse loss through acute postsynaptic translational regulation.” J Neurosci 27(12): 3120–30.
Hanson, J. E. and D. V. Madison (2007). “Presynaptic FMR1 genotype influences the degree of synaptic connectivity in a mosaic mouse model of fragile X syndrome.” J Neurosci 27(15): 4014–8.
Boda, B., S. Alberi, et al. (2004). “The mental retardation protein PAK3 contributes to synapse formation and plasticity in hippocampus.” J Neurosci 24(48): 10816–25.
Behnisch, T., W. Francesconi, et al. (2004). “HIV secreted protein Tat prevents long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region.” Brain Res 1012(1–2): 187–9.
Kamenetz, F., T. Tomita, et al. (2003). “APP processing and synaptic function.” Neuron 37(6): 925–37.
Shankar, G. M., B. L. Bloodgood, et al. (2007). “Natural oligomers of the Alzheimer amyloid-beta protein induce reversible synapse loss by modulating an NMDA-type glutamate receptor-dependent signaling pathway.” J Neurosci 27(11): 2866–75.
Leutgeb, J. K., J. U. Frey, et al. (2003). “LTP in cultured hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices from young adult (P25-30) rats.” J Neurosci Methods 130(1): 19–32.
Xiang, Z., S. Hrabetova, et al. (2000). “Long-term maintenance of mature hippocampal slices in vitro.” J Neurosci Methods 98(2): 145–54.
Pavlidis, P. and D. V. Madison (1999). “Synaptic transmission in pair recordings from CA3 pyramidal cells in organotypic culture.” J Neurophysiol 81(6): 2787–97.
Hanson, J. E., M. R. Emond, et al. (2006). “Blocking polysynaptic inhibition via opioid receptor activation isolates excitatory synaptic currents without triggering epileptiform activity in organotypic hippocampal slices.” J Neurosci Methods 150(1): 8–15.
Montgomery, J. M., P. Pavlidis, et al. (2001). “Pair recordings reveal all-silent synaptic connections and the postsynaptic expression of long-term potentiation.” Neuron 29(3): 691–701.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Hanson, J.E., Orr, A.L., Fernandez-Illescas, S., Valenzuela, R.A., Madison, D.V. (2009). Hippocampal Slice Cultures. In: Doering, L. (eds) Protocols for Neural Cell Culture. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-292-6_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-292-6_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-291-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-292-6
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols