神経-グリア細胞系におけるカルシウム波とカルシウム振動 : その測定と発生機構

抄録

Cultured neural network is a useful tool for the understanding of fundamental functions and structure of nervous system. In this biological neural network, nerve cells mutually communicate by electrical or chemical interactions, and exhibit collective dynamics of activities such as synchronous bursting or calcium wave propagation. Photostimulation by using caged-glutamate were performed to elucidate the mechanism of Ca wave propagations through the measurement of the speed of Ca wave, rising time of Ca increase, and range of propagation, etc. To analyze the activity and dynamical connectivity of the cultured network, we quantified spontaneous collective dynamics of the network by lowering magnesium concentration in extracellular solution. From the visualization of network structure, cell type discrimination by MAP2 monochronal antibody, and measurement of dynamical activity by [Ca²⁺] sensitive dye, we quantitatively elucidated that collectivity of the network activities were increased due to the development of long-range interaction between neurons.