Temporal Dynamics of Neocortical Development in Organotypic Mouse Cultures: A Comprehensive Analysis

Murine organotypic brain slice cultures have been widely used in neuroscientific research and are offering the opportunity to study neuronal function under normal and disease conditions. Despite the brought application, the mechanisms governing the maturation of immature cortical circuits in vitro are not well understood. In this study, we present a detailed investigation into the development of the neocortex in vitro. Utilizing a holistic approach, we studied organotypic whole-hemisphere brain slice cultures from postnatal mice and tracked the development of the somatosensory area over a five-week period. Our analysis revealed the maturation of passive and active intrinsic properties of pyramidal cells together with their morphology, closely resembling in vivo development. Detailed Multi-electrode array (MEA) electrophysiological assessments and RNA expression profiling demonstrated stable network properties by two weeks in culture, followed by the transition of spontaneous activity towards more complex patterns including high-frequency oscillations. However, weeks 4 and 5 exhibited increased variability and initial signs of neuronal loss, highlighting the importance of considering developmental stages in experimental design. This comprehensive characterization is vital for understanding the temporal dynamics of the neocortical development in vitro, with implications for neuroscientific research methodologies, particularly in the investigation of diseases such as epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders.