Regensburg 2022 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 2: Computational Biophysics and Neuroscience
BP 2.5: Talk
Monday, September 5, 2022, 11:00–11:15, H13
Mechanical stimulation in stem cell-derived 3D neuronal networks — •Elijah Shelton1, Katja Salbaum1,2, Filippo Kiessler1, Paulina Wysmolek3, Selina Sonntag1, and Friedhelm Serwane1,2,4 — 1Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany — 2Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience (GSN), Munich, Germany — 3Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany — 4Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Germany
Neurons sense and respond to mechanical factors in their local microenvironment. For example, firing activity is modulated in response to amplitude and location of a mechanical stimulation as single cell in vitro experiments have shown. However, it is unclear (i) how these observations translate to the scale of neuronal tissues and (ii) how mechanical stimulation informs the formation and function of neurons in 3D networks. To tackle this problem, we combine stem cell-derived neuronal organoids, magnetic droplets as mechanical actuators, and calcium imaging as tool for neuronal characterization. Using 30-50 micron diameter magnetic droplets, we produce controlled and precise mechanical stimulations inside these 3D tissues. We visualize electrophysiological activity within these networks using genetically encoded calcium sensors and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Here, I present recent mechanical and electrophysiological measurements within these neuronal organoids. Such kinds of recordings might provide insights into how mechanical forces can influence both form and function of neuronal networks.