Skip to main content

Hippocampal Slice Cultures

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Protocols for Neural Cell Culture

Abstract

We have provided a detailed protocol for the preparation of interface hippocampal slice cultures from young mice or rats and have included modifications of the protocol necessary for culturing electrophysiologically viable slices from older animals. In addition to providing key points for successful measurements of synaptic function using electrophysiology, we have discussed approaches for studying models of neurological disease with hippocampal slice cultures. Future combination of the unique types of measurements afforded in slice cultures combined with the use of transgenic animals, exogenous reagent application, viral transfection, and the option to use slices from animals of different ages, promise to provide continued advances in understanding neural network phenotypes that may underlie neurological disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Madison, D. V. and E. B. Edson (2001). “Preparation of hippocampal brain slices.” Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 6: Unit 6 4.

  2. Bliss, T. V. and C. D. Richards (1971). “Some experiments with in vitro hippocampal slices.” J Physiol 214(1): 7P–9P.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Gahwiler, B. H. (1981). “Organotypic monolayer cultures of nervous tissue.” J Neurosci Methods 4(4): 329–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bagal, A. A., J. P. Kao, et al. (2005). “Long-term potentiation of exogenous glutamate responses at single dendritic spines.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(40): 14434–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Stoppini, L., P. A. Buchs, et al. (1991). “A simple method for organotypic cultures of nervous tissue.” J Neurosci Methods 37(2): 173–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gahwiler, B. H., S. M. Thompson, et al. (2001). “Preparation and maintenance of organotypic slice cultures of CNS tissue.” Curr Protoc Neurosci Chapter 6 Unit 6 11.

  7. Hanson, J. E., M. Blank, et al. (2007). “The functional nature of synaptic circuitry is altered in area CA3 of the hippocampus in a mouse model of Down’s syndrome.” J Physiol 579(Pt 1): 53–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pfeiffer, B. E. and K. M. Huber (2007). “Fragile X mental retardation protein induces synapse loss through acute postsynaptic translational regulation.” J Neurosci 27(12): 3120–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hanson, J. E. and D. V. Madison (2007). “Presynaptic FMR1 genotype influences the degree of synaptic connectivity in a mosaic mouse model of fragile X syndrome.” J Neurosci 27(15): 4014–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Boda, B., S. Alberi, et al. (2004). “The mental retardation protein PAK3 contributes to synapse formation and plasticity in hippocampus.” J Neurosci 24(48): 10816–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Behnisch, T., W. Francesconi, et al. (2004). “HIV secreted protein Tat prevents long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region.” Brain Res 1012(1–2): 187–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kamenetz, F., T. Tomita, et al. (2003). “APP processing and synaptic function.” Neuron 37(6): 925–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Shankar, G. M., B. L. Bloodgood, et al. (2007). “Natural oligomers of the Alzheimer amyloid-beta protein induce reversible synapse loss by modulating an NMDA-type glutamate receptor-dependent signaling pathway.” J Neurosci 27(11): 2866–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Leutgeb, J. K., J. U. Frey, et al. (2003). “LTP in cultured hippocampal-entorhinal cortex slices from young adult (P25-30) rats.” J Neurosci Methods 130(1): 19–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Xiang, Z., S. Hrabetova, et al. (2000). “Long-term maintenance of mature hippocampal slices in vitro.” J Neurosci Methods 98(2): 145–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pavlidis, P. and D. V. Madison (1999). “Synaptic transmission in pair recordings from CA3 pyramidal cells in organotypic culture.” J Neurophysiol 81(6): 2787–97.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hanson, J. E., M. R. Emond, et al. (2006). “Blocking polysynaptic inhibition via opioid receptor activation isolates excitatory synaptic currents without triggering epileptiform activity in organotypic hippocampal slices.” J Neurosci Methods 150(1): 8–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Montgomery, J. M., P. Pavlidis, et al. (2001). “Pair recordings reveal all-silent synaptic connections and the postsynaptic expression of long-term potentiation.” Neuron 29(3): 691–701.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Hanson, J.E., Orr, A.L., Fernandez-Illescas, S., Valenzuela, R.A., Madison, D.V. (2009). Hippocampal Slice Cultures. In: Doering, L. (eds) Protocols for Neural Cell Culture. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-292-6_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-292-6_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-291-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-292-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics