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In Vitro Neuronal Networks pp 275–297Cite as

Application of Microelectrode Array Approaches to Neurotoxicity Testing and Screening

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Part of the book series: Advances in Neurobiology ((NEUROBIOL,volume 22))

Abstract

Neurotoxicity can be defined by the ability of a drug or chemical to alter the physiology, biochemistry, or structure of the nervous system in a manner that may negatively impact the health or function of the individual. Electrophysiological approaches have been utilized to study the mechanisms underlying neurotoxic actions of drugs and chemicals for over 50 years, and in more recent decades, high-throughput patch-clamp approaches have been utilized by the pharmaceutical industry for drug development. The use of microelectrode array recordings to study neural network electrophysiology is a relatively newer approach, with commercially available systems becoming available only in the early 2000s. However, MEAs have been rapidly adopted as a useful approach for neurotoxicity testing. In this chapter, I will review the use of MEA approaches as they have been applied to the field of neurotoxicity testing, especially as they have been applied to the need to screen large numbers of chemicals for neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity. In addition, I will also identify challenges for the field that when addressed will improve the utility of MEA approaches for toxicity testing.

Preparation of this document has been funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This document has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Drs. Cina Mack and Andrew Johnstone for their insightful and helpful comments on a draft version of this chapter. In addition, I would like to thank the many students, postdocs, and laboratory staff who conducted the work served as the foundation for this chapter.

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  1. Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Timothy J. Shafer

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Joint Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy

    Michela Chiappalone

  2. Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy

    Valentina Pasquale

  3. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Monica Frega

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Shafer, T.J. (2019). Application of Microelectrode Array Approaches to Neurotoxicity Testing and Screening. In: Chiappalone, M., Pasquale, V., Frega, M. (eds) In Vitro Neuronal Networks. Advances in Neurobiology, vol 22. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11135-9_12

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