Culture of Rat Primary Cortical Cells for Microelectrode Array (MEA) Recordings to Screen for Acute and Developmental Neurotoxicity

Neurotoxicity testing of chemicals, drug candidates, and environmental pollutants still relies on extensive in vivo studies that are very costly, time-consuming, ethically debated due to the large number animals typically used. Currently, rat primary cortical cultures widely used for vitro neurotoxicity studies, as they closely resemble brain with respect diversity cell types, their physiological functions, pathological processes undergo. Common assays screening often focus target-specific endpoints such morphological, biochemical, or electrophysiological changes, narrow can hamper translation interpretation. Microelectrode array (MEA) recordings provide a non-invasive platform extracellular recording electrical activity cultured neuronal cells, thereby enabling evaluation changes (network) function sensitive integrated endpoint screening. Here, we describe an approach assessing network measure neurotoxicity, using grown MEAs. We detailed protocol culture several experimental procedures address acute, subchronic, chronic exposure scenarios. additionally steps processing analyzing MEA viability data. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Isolation cells 48-well plates Support Pretreatment washing before first use re-use 2: Coating 0.1% PEI solution measurements during acute Alternate subchronic 3: Determination after experiments data 4: Analyzing