Recording action potentials from cultured neurons with extracellular microcircuit electrodes.

Dissociated cell cultures of neurons from neonatal rat superior cervical ganglia have been grown in specially prepared dishes, the bottoms of which consist of glass coverslips on which thin-film microcircuits have been deposited. The microcircuit provides 32 microelectrodes per dish, each approximately 8 X 10 micrometer in area. Extracellular recordings of action potentials from individual neurons have been made, with good signal-to-noise ratios, for cells within 40 micrometer of the electrode centers. The microelectrodes are also suitable for passing the current required for extracellular stimulation and action potentials have been evoked by stimulating cell bodies and processes through the electrodes.