engleski

3D neuronal networks share some of the complexity of brain dynamics

The fabrication of new 3D scaffolds permits the formation of controlled 3D neuronal cultures, resembling better the in vivo situation. Here, we compare neuronal networks obtained from dissociated hippocampal cells plated on glass, 2D graphene films and 3D graphene foam scaffolds. After one week, calcium imaging revealed poorly synchronous activity in 2D networks. The degree of synchronization in 3D networks was higher and had two regimes: a highly synchronized (HS) regime characterized by an almost complete synchrony ; and a moderately synchronized (MS) regime, where large synchronous bursts coexist with sparse uncorrelated firing. The HS regime was never observed in 2D networks formed by the same neurons plated and cultured on the 3D graphene foam scaffolds. During the MS regime, neuronal assemblies in synchrony changed with time and space, as observed in the mammalian brain and as expected in frustrated networks. The percentage of GABAergic and of glutamatergic neurons and also the glia/neurons ratio was similar in our 2D and 3D neuronal cultures. Nevertheless, on 3D scaffolds astrocytes had significantly higher process extension, resulting in more complex morphology. 3D cultures, because of their topology, have a different connectivity and many connections among distant neurons leading to small-world modular networks. The higher degree of synchrony and frustrated dynamics of 3D neuronal networks are consequences of the complex 3D network structure. Therefore, 3D networks differ from their 2D counterparts and recapitulate some features of the brain dynamics.

3D neuronal networks

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