A novel in vitro preparation: the intact hippocampal formation

Neuron. 1997 Oct;19(4):743-9. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80956-3.

Abstract

The intact hippocampal formation (IHF) of neonatal or young rats can be kept alive for an extended period in a fully submerged chamber with excellent morphological preservation. Field or patch-clamp recordings, intracellular Ca2+ measurements, and 3-D reconstruction of biocytin-filled neurons can be performed routinely. The generation and propagation of network-driven activities can be studied within the IHF or between connected intact structures such as the septum and the hippocampus or two hippocampi, and the use of a dual chamber enables the application of drugs separately to each structure. This preparation will be useful to study intact neuronal networks in the developing hippocampus in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / pharmacology
  • Aging / physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Dissection / methods
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Pyramidal Cells / drug effects
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Pyramidal Cells / ultrastructure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Tetrodotoxin
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione