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Cell Culture Techniques pp 17–35Cite as

In Vitro Techniques for Assessing Neurotoxicity Using Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Models

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Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 145))

Abstract

The central nervous system consists of a multitude of different neurons and supporting cells that form networks for transmitting neuronal signals. Proper function of the nervous system depends critically on a wide range of highly regulated processes including intracellular calcium homeostasis, neurotransmitter release, and electrical activity. Due to the diversity of cell types and complexity of signaling processes, the (central) nervous system is very vulnerable to toxic insults.

Nowadays, a broad range of approaches and cell models is available to study neurotoxicity. In this chapter we show the applicability of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal co-cultures for in vitro neurotoxicity testing. We demonstrate that immunocytochemistry can be used to visualize networks of cultured cells and to differentiate between different cell types. Live cell imaging and electrophysiology techniques demonstrate that the neuronal networks develop spontaneous activity, including synchronized calcium oscillations that coincide with spontaneous changes in membrane potential as well as spontaneous electrical activity with defined (network) bursting. Importantly, as shown in this chapter, spontaneously active human iPSC-derived neuronal co-cultures are suitable for in vitro neurotoxicity assessment. Future application of live imaging and electrophysiological techniques on hiPSC from different donors and/or patients differentiated in different cell types holds great promise for personalized neurotoxicity assessment and safety screening.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge members of the Neurotoxicology Research Group for helpful discussions. This work was funded by a grant from the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs; project number 50308-372160), the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW; InnoSysTox project number 114027001), and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht University, The Netherlands).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurotoxicology Research Group, Toxicology and Pharmacology Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Anke M. Tukker, Fiona M. J. Wijnolts, Aart de Groot & Remco H. S. Westerink

  2. Centre for Cell Imaging (CCI), Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Richard W. Wubbolts

Authors
  1. Anke M. Tukker
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  2. Fiona M. J. Wijnolts
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  3. Aart de Groot
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  4. Richard W. Wubbolts
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  5. Remco H. S. Westerink
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Remco H. S. Westerink .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    Michael Aschner

  2. Department of Environment/STE 100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Lucio Costa

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Tukker, A.M., Wijnolts, F.M.J., de Groot, A., Wubbolts, R.W., Westerink, R.H.S. (2019). In Vitro Techniques for Assessing Neurotoxicity Using Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Models. In: Aschner, M., Costa, L. (eds) Cell Culture Techniques. Neuromethods, vol 145. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9228-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9228-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9227-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9228-7

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