NAMS 2002 Workshop - ICOM 2008

Biomedical and Biotechnology II – 3
Wednesday July 16, 10:45 AM-11:15 AM, Honolulu/Kahuku
Morphological and Functional Features of Neurons Isolated from
Hippocampus on Different Membrane Surfaces
L. De Bartolo (Presenting), Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of
Italy, ITM-C, Italy - l.debartolo@itm.cnr.it
M. Rende, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
S. Morelli, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
G. Giusi, Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Ecology, University of C, Italy
S. Salerno, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
A. Piscioneri, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
A. Gordano, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
M. Canonaco, Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Ecology, University of C,
Italy
E. Drioli, Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-C, Italy
Biomaterials such as membranes have become of great interest, since they offer
the advantage of developing neuronal tissue that may be used for in vitro
simulation of brain function. In an attempt to develop a membrane biohybrid
system constituted of membranes and neurons the behaviour of neurons isolated
from the hippocampus of the hamster Mesocricetus auratus were studied on
membranes with different morphological properties. Polymeric membranes in
polyester (PE), modified polyetheretherketone (PEEK-WC), fluorocarbon (FC)
and polyethersulfone (PES) coated with poly- L-lysine with different
morphological surface properties (e.g., pore size, porosity and roughness) were
used as substrate for cell adhesion. Confocal and SEM analyses of cells cultured
on the different surfaces demonstrated that in response to varying the roughness
of the membrane surface, hippocampal neurons exhibited a different
morphology. Indeed cells grown on smoother membranes differentiated with a
large number of neuritis with consequent formation of bundles. As a
consequence while a very complex network was formed on FC membrane, cells
tend to, instead, form aggregates and most of the processes are developed
inside the pores of the membranes when rougher PEEK-WC surfaces were used.
Metabolic results in terms of glucose consumption, lactate production and BDNF
secretion confirmed the effect of roughness on the cell behaviour: neurons
exhibited BDNF secretion at high levels on FC membranes with respect to the
other membranes. Taken together these results suggest the pivotal role played
by membrane roughness in the adhesion and differentiation of the hippocampal
neurons and may thus constitute a valuable approach for future neurobiological
studies.