Progetti Missione 4

I progetti del PNRR Missione 4 del Policlinico.

Inside a Neuron - Study of human cerebellar and cerebral cortex neurons activity through electrophysiological and imaging techniques on ex vivo brain surgical tissue - InsaNE
PI: Giannantonio Spena
Data inizio: 01/09/2024    Data fine: 31/10/2025
Abstract: Most of our knowledge on the function of neurons and microcircuits derives from rodents, a fact that reflects the superior availability of specimens and ease of experimental programming and logistics. Nonetheless, humans may differ from rodent physiology so that it is fundamental to translate current knowledge to humans. This can be done by performing experimental recordings ex vivo on fresh tissue obtained during surgical interventions (i.e, intra-axial tumor removal). The objective of this project is to gather neurosurgery, electrophysiology, and imaging facilities that will undertake the challenge of obtaining the specimens and perform recordings “on-site” (next or close to the surgery room) from human acute brain slices including the neocortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. Cutting-edge techniques should include patch-clamp, high-density multi-electrode arrays (HD-MEA) and two photon confocal calcium imaging. The recording protocols should address basal frequency discharge, intrinsic electroresponsiveness, synaptic transmission and plasticity. The data will provide the basis for computational models to make full value of these unique results.