Han Yao, Li Hong, Lang Yiran, Zhao Yuwei, Sun Hongji, Zhang Peng, Ma Xuan, Han Jiuqi, Wang Qiyu, Zhou Jin, Wang Changyong
Department of advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Neural Interface& Rehabilitation Technology Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Neurochem Res. 2017 May;42(5):1394-1402. doi: 10.1007/s11064-017-2190-3. Epub 2017 Mar 13.
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory transmitter, acting on receptor channels to reduce neuronal excitability in matured neural systems. However, electrophysiological responses of whole neuronal ensembles to the exposure to GABA are still unclear. We used micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) to study the effects of the increasing amount of GABA on functional network of cortical neural cultures. Then the recorded data were analyzed by the cross-covariance analysis and graph theory. Results showed that after the GABA treatment, the activity parameters of firing rate, bursting rate, bursting duration and network burst frequency in neural cultures decreased as expected. In addition, the functional connectivity also decreased in similarity, network density, and the size of the largest component. However, small-worldness was not found to be influenced by the acute GABA treatment. Our results support the position that using graph theory to evaluate the functional connectivity of neural cultures may enhance understanding of the pharmacological impact of neurotransmitters on neuronal networks.
γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）是一种抑制性神经递质，作用于受体通道以降低成熟神经系统中的神经元兴奋性。然而，整个神经元群体对GABA暴露的电生理反应仍不清楚。我们使用微电极阵列（MEA）来研究增加GABA量对皮质神经培养物功能网络的影响。然后通过互协方差分析和图论对记录的数据进行分析。结果表明，GABA处理后，神经培养物中的放电率、爆发率、爆发持续时间和网络爆发频率等活动参数如预期那样降低。此外，功能连接性在相似性、网络密度和最大组件大小方面也有所下降。然而，未发现小世界特性受急性GABA处理的影响。我们的结果支持这样的观点，即使用图论评估神经培养物的功能连接性可能会增强对神经递质对神经元网络药理学影响的理解。
