Studying the Regeneration of Functional Connections between Spinal Cord Slices Using a Multi-Electrode Array

Place a multi-electrode array, or MEA, in a petri dish under a stereomicroscope. The MEA comprises electrodes arranged in a grid with two separate zones.

Add a drop of blood plasma to the MEA. Place two spinal cord slices obtained from rat embryos, with their ventral sides facing each other.

Introduce a thrombin solution, mix it with the plasma, and incubate. Thrombin causes plasma coagulation, creating a biological scaffold that facilitates the adhesion of the slices on the MEA.

Add a nutrient medium and incubate under agitation, promoting the formation of cellular connections between the slices and causing their fusion.

Under the stereomicroscope, introduce a lesion by cutting the tissue connections between the slices. Add a nutrient medium and incubate.

During incubation, neurons grow across the lesion to connect the slices.

Using a recording chamber, record electrical activity from both spinal cord slices to assess their regenerated functional connections.

Put a Petri dish with a coated microelectrode array inside, under a stereomicroscope. Bring the array into focus and center a 6-microliter droplet of chicken plasma on the electrode array. Using a small spatula, carefully sli