Applicability of hiPSC-derived neuronal co-cultures and rodent primary cortical cultures for in vitro seizure liability assessment

Tukker AM, Wijnolts FMJ, de Groot A, Westerink RHS

Toxicological Sciences, 2020

Summary:

In this publication, the authors compared the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons co-cultured with astrocytes, and rodent primary cortical cultures in vitro to assess the seizure liability response to known compounds.

Axion's multiwell microelectrode array (MEA) system was used to assess the neuronal network activity of the two cultures in response to the tested compounds.  The MEA recordings showed that all compounds affected the activity of the hiPSC-derived cocultures.  Additionally, both cultures showed a sensitivity response to the compounds but the astrocyte hiPSC-derived neuron co-culture were more sensitive to certain compounds.

These results from the MEA system suggested that the hiPSC-derived neurons and astrocyte co-culture may perform better than primary rodent neuronal cultures in in vitro seizure prediction assays.