Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System NeuronsKyle Hubbard 1, Phillip Beske 1, Megan Lyman 1, Patrick McNutt 1
1Research Division, Cellular Molecular Biology Branch, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
A custom protocol is described to differentiate mouse ES cells into defined populations of highly pure neurons exhibiting functioning synapses and emergent network behavior. Electrophysiological analysis demonstrates the loss of synaptic transmission following exposure to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes /A-/G and tetanus neurotoxin.