Article
Retinal recordings with penetrating multielectrode arrays
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Authors
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Viviana Rincón Montes
- Institute of Complex Systems, Bioelectronics, ICS-8, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
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J. Gehlen
- Institute of Complex Systems, Cellular Biophysics, ICS-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
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S. Lück
- Department of Materials in Electrical Engineering 1, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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W. Mokwa
- Department of Materials in Electrical Engineering 1, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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F. Müller
- Institute of Complex Systems, Cellular Biophysics, ICS-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
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P. Walter
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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A. Offenhäusser
- Institute of Complex Systems, Bioelectronics, ICS-8, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
| Published: | November 30, 2017 |
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Outline
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Objective: Assess the recording capabilities of custom made penetrating microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for in vitro experiments.
Materials and Methods: The spontaneous spiking activity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and responses to optic stimulation as well as to treatment with high potassium concentration were recorded in vitro from light-adapted retinas of 4‒12 months old wildtype (WT) mice using silicon-based devices with four penetrating shafts, each carrying three iridium oxide recording electrodes, which were 20 µm apart from each other.
Results: Retinal activity was captured at different depths of penetration in the retina, allowing a follow-up of the action potentials of a same group of RGCs with 20 µm z-resolution. Likewise, different physiological responses of RGCs to light stimuli were captured. Finally, increasing the extracellular potassium concentration lead to an increase in spiking activity followed by a silencing phase and by recovery of the spiking activity upon washout.
Discussion: The feasibility to access the different layers of the retina while at the same time record from RGCs broadens the use and the field of action of penetrating MEAs for retinal implants. It opens the possibility to stimulate inner retinal cells and to record from the spiking retinal ganglion cells simultaneously. Such system would provide feedback about the success of electrical stimulation.
Acknowledgment: The study was supported by the DFG grants OF-22/11-3, MO-781/8-3, MU-3036/3-3, and WA-1472/6-3.
