The purpose of this study was to provide a simplified alternative technology and format for direct current stimulation of mammalian cells. An incubatable reusable stimulator was developed that effectively delivers a regulated current and does not require constant monitoring

Caplan, Michael

Hicks, Addie

Panitch, Alyssa

Sweeney, James D

BioResearch Open Access

English

PubMed

eScholarship - University of California

UC DavisUC Davis Previously Published WorksTitleAn Incubatable Direct Current Stimulation System for In Vitro Studies of Mammalian CellsPermalinkhttps://escholarship.org/uc/item/26w5v73rJournalBioResearch Open Access, 1(4)ISSN2164-7844AuthorsHicks, AddiePanitch, AlyssaCaplan, Michaelet al.Publication Date2012-08-01DOI10.1089/biores.2012.0233 Peer reviewedeScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital LibraryUniversity of CaliforniaTECHNICAL REPORTAn Incubatable Direct Current Stimulation Systemfor In Vitro Studies of Mammalian CellsAddie Hicks,1 Alyssa Panitch,2 Michael Caplan,1 and James D. Sweeney3AbstractThe purpose of this study was to provide a simplified alternative technology and format for direct current stim-ulation of mammalian cells. An incubatable reusable stimulator was developed that effectively delivers a regu-lated current and does not require constant monitoring.Key words: direct current stimulation; electrical stimulation; incubatable; mammalian cellsIntroductionDetermining the effects of electric fields (EFs) on cellshas been an area of interest for many years.1–7 EFs havebeen shown to be a signaling cue for cell migration,1,8 mediategrowth cone steering,9 induce cellular alignment,10,11 influ-ence anatomical development,12 and aid in wound healingand regeneration.13 Stimulation setups for these types of stud-ies can vary, depending on the application. McCaig et al.14 andRobinson15 describe an experimental setup and a protocol forstimulating cells in vitro. The setup was effective for cells not re-quiring incubation, but for mammalian cells, modificationsmay be needed. For example, Cork et al.16 designed and fabri-cated a field chamber and a stimulator to expose PC12 cells (ratclonal pheochromocytoma cell line) to field strengths from 5 to100 mV/mm. Each field chamber could house two cell culturesand was placed inside a 37C, 7% CO2 incubator. However, thechambers were connected to the stimulator by a segment offlat eight-stranded ribbon cable that fed over the closed incuba-tor door to the stimulator set up on the outside. The system alsoincluded digital current and voltage meters and a channel selec-tion switch. In addition to the space required for a multicompo-nent system of this type and specialty chamber, a dedicatedincubator may also be necessary.Borgens et al.10 designed and fabricated a special chamberand an incubator system to electrically stimulate rat astro-cytes. The system was a bench-top setup on a microscopestage and included several components. A 37C incubatorwas created around the microscope by fitting it with plexiglasand utilizing a thermostatically controlled heater. An in-dwelling microthermoprobe was used to constantly monitorthe temperature, and an in-series multimeter was added tomonitor the current. Pan and Borgens17,18 utilized a heated(35C) microscope stage setup to apply EFs to chick periph-eral neurons for 3–6-h periods. This arrangement was favor-able to the cell type examined and stimulation durationchosen and allowed for real-time recording and photographyof the cultures. However, for nonreal-time applications andlong stimulation periods ( ‡ 10 h), a modified arrangementmay be more suitable for some cell types. In preliminarywork, we found that for extended stimulations, mammaliancentral nervous system (CNS) neurons had better survivalrates and viability when incubated in a traditional CO2 incu-bator versus a microscope stage-based setup.As an alternative, a self-contained, incubatable direct cur-rent stimulator was developed here that effectively deliversan EF to cells. The circuit arrangement allows the stimulatorto be housed inside a traditional CO2 incubator during exper-imental runs without compromising its output current regu-lation. This provides a more favorable environment for somecells types and allows longer-duration experiments withoutconcerns for gas regulation. In addition, it eliminates theneed for customized or dedicated incubators and multidevicesetups. Since it is reusable, fabrication of a new device or re-placement of circuit components for each experiment is notrequired. It can also be used with commercially available,stimulation-compatible cell culture chambers.Materials and MethodsStimulator fabricationThe stimulator circuit is based on the National Semiconduc-tor Corporation’s zero-temperature coefficient configuration19using the LM334Z three-terminal adjustable current source. Aschematic is shown in Figure 1. Current stability at tempera-tures greater than ambient is achieved with this circuit, since1School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.2Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.3Department of Bioengineering, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida.BioResearch Open AccessVolume 1, Number 4, August 2012ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.DOI: 10.1089/biores.2012.0233199it compensates for increases in current due to temperaturerises. The output current, ISET, is established by adjustingthe variable resistors R1 and R2 to values resulting from Equa-tions (1) and (2). It can be set to any value between 1 lA and10 mA.R1 = 0:134V=ISET (1)R2 = 10R1 (2)Fixed resistors of suitable values could also be utilized.Since the LM334Z’s operating voltage limit is 40 V, four re-chargeable 250-mAh, 9-V nickel-metal-hydride batterieswere placed in series giving a total power capacity of 36 V.All circuit components (e.g., LM334Z, resistors, diode, andbatteries) have operating temperature ranges well aboveand below 37C, and thus the incubator environment doesnot place undue stress on them and shorten their life. This en-hances the stimulator’s longevity and reusability.Xenopus cell cultureTo determine if the stimulator could adequately supply anEF to and invoke responses from cells, experiments were con-ducted on cell types known to respond to applied EFs, Xeno-pus laevis neurons and myoblasts. For these experiments, cellculture/stimulation chambers were fabricated as describedby McCaig et al.14 using No. 1 coverglass strips. Embryoswere developed and dissected, and cells harvested and cul-tured in accordance with protocols outlined by Tabti et al.20Cells were harvested from stage 19 to 21 embryos and platedfor 11 h before application of the field.Incubatable setup for mammalian cell cultureFor cell culture and application of the EF to mammaliancells, Ibidi l-Slide I IbiTreat chambers (Ibidi; #80106) werepurchased. It has internal dimensions of 50 mm ·5 mm · 0.4 mm, contains medium reservoirs on both ends,and since cells can be fixed and stained within the chamber,facilitates microscopy. Each reservoir can hold over 1.5 mLof the medium. These features make it suitable for electricalstimulation applications. The setup consists of 1% agarose-filled bridges (mixed with medium), the cell culture/stimula-tion chamber, 100-mm medium-filled petri dishes (to housebridges), platinum electrodes (0.5-mm diameter; 7-cm long),and a stimulator (Fig. 2). The platinum electrodes were sol-dered to attachment wires to extend their length. Bridgeswere made of a flexible silicone rubber tubing (Barnant;#62998-490) with dimensions 3/16†I.D., 1/4†O.D., and cutto an appropriate length for the setup and stimulation dura-tion.15 They were placed in petri dishes so that their tipswere submerged *4 mm or less. The opposite ends of thebridges were placed inside the chamber reservoirs to makeelectrical contact with the circuit. Reservoir caps were first re-moved and replaced with parafilm to help secure the bridgesin place. A hole was punctured in the parafilm to allow bridgeentry. The entire stimulation setup is placed on an aluminum-foil-covered tray (of any size and type) and placed on theshelf of a 37C, 5% CO2 incubator. Before placing the cellsand stimulator on the tray, items were UV sterilized. Thestimulator was disinfected with 70% ethanol. The platinumelectrodes were placed in the petri dishes and connected(via attachment wires) to spring coils installed on the stimu-lator. The electrodes are reusable over multiple experimentsand do not require any special coatings or pretreatment.Results and DiscussionTo test the effectiveness of the system, experiments wereconducted to determine stimulator performance at 37Cand to examine its effect on a biological organism (Xenopuscells).Stimulator testingThe stimulator’s performance was assessed by monitoringthe output current at the beginning and end of 16-h incubatedruns and by comparing these two values to determine if therewas a significant difference (Student’s t-Test). Currents wereset to 0.55, 0.84, and 0.88 mA. Six experiments were conductedat each current level (n = 6). No significant differences werefound at any of the values (ISET = 0.55 mA, p > 0.05; ISET = 0.84mA, p > 0.05; ISET = 0.88 mA, p > 0.05). The 95% confidence in-tervals were also calculated for the beginning and endingFIG. 1. Schematic diagram of stimulator circuit. Variable re-sistors (potentiometers) R1 and R2 set the circuit current in ac-cordance with Eqs. (1) and (2), while RSeries is used to monitorit. RLoad represents total load resistance (i.e., stimulationchamber, bridges, and medium), which connects to the stim-ulator through spring connectors and platinum electrodes.FIG. 2. Schematic diagram of incubatable setup. The setupincludes the stimulator, platinum electrodes, agarose-filledbridges, medium-filled petri dishes, cell culture/stimulationchamber, and foil-covered tray.200 HICKS ET AL.output currents. Plots are shown for ISET = 0.55 and 0.84 mA(Fig. 3). Currents were determined using Ohm’s law aftermeasuring the voltage across the series resistor (RSeries). Meas-urements were taken (from ports installed on stimulator) witha digital multimeter immediately after the system was re-moved from the incubator.Separate experiments were carried out to monitor the out-put current at several time points during incubated stimula-tions (Table 1). Readings were taken at 2 to 3-H intervalsduring the 16-h period. Comparable values were observedduring the course of the runs. Results indicate that the stimu-lator performs well under incubator conditions and delivers aregulated current to the load.Xenopus cell stimulation (effect on a biological organism)Xenopus cellular alignment and orientation were observedafter electrically stimulating the cells with our system on thebenchtop. The neurons and myoblasts were exposed to EFs of120 mV/mm for 10 h. Phase-contrast photos were taken on aLeica DM IRB inverted microscope at the end of the stimula-tion period. Results were calculated and compared to thatreported in the literature.2,7 Neurites (Fig. 4) and myoblast(Fig. 5) exhibited the cathode-oriented and perpendicular-like behaviors, respectively, described. Neurites were catego-rized in a manner similar to Rajnicek et al.7 Namely, with thecathode at 0 and anode at 180, neurites were classified asprojecting cathodally if the X-coordinate of the growth conewas greater than the X-coordinate of the somal initiationsite of the same neurite. Myoblasts were consideredTable 1. Output Current Readings Taken Overa 16-h Period at 2 to 3-h IntervalsExperiment number Output current (mA)Stimulator 11 0.550.550.550.550.540.550.54Mean – SEM 0.55 – 0.0022 0.550.550.550.550.550.55Mean – SEM 0.55 – 4.96 · 1017Stimulator 33 0.880.900.900.900.90Mean – SEM 0.90 – 0.0044 0.890.890.890.890.890.89Mean – SEM 0.89 – 0Output current regulation at 37C.SEM, standard error of the mean.FIG. 4. Xenopus neuron after 10 h in a 120 mV/mm electricfield. Neurites labeled ‘‘c’’ are oriented or have turned cathod-ally. Magnification, 20 · . Scale bar = 50 lm. + / signs indi-cate the field vector.FIG. 3. Comparison of stimulator output currents at begin-ning and at end of stimulation runs. Current stability was ob-served at each value tested with no significant differences. (A)ISET = 0.55 mA, p > 0.05; (B) ISET = 0.84 mA, p > 0.05. 95% confi-dence intervals are shown.INCUBATABLE DC STIMULATOR FOR MAMMALIAN CELLS 201perpendicular if their bipolar axis was > 60 with respect tothe EF vector.Mammalian cell stimulationRat cortical neurons were cultured in the Ibidi chambersand electrically stimulated with the incubatable stimulatordeveloped. Neurite orientation and enhanced neurite exten-sion were observed (to be reported separately), suggestingan influence by the field. Figure 6 shows a healthy cultureof the cells after stimulation. GAP-43 staining confirmedthat the cells were in a growth state. The abundance of neu-rites (highlighted by arrows), robust somas, and GAP-43 sug-gests that no ill effects occurred from stimulation.One advantage of the system is that the current does not re-quire constant monitoring. The performance test results(Table 1; Fig. 3) showed that the stimulator operates in a37C environment without any significant change in the out-put current. The circuit configuration cancels the temperature-dependent properties of the LM334Z, and thus provides currentstability. Another advantage is that for mammalian cells, a tra-ditional CO2 incubator can be used. This was found to be ad-vantageous in our study of CNS neurons. It simplified theexperimental process and procedures and facilitated obtainingconsistent results.AcknowledgmentsFunding was provided by the Arizona BiomedicalResearch Commission (0017) and Weldon School of Biomed-ical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.Author Disclosure StatementNo competing financial interests exist.References1. Ferrier J, Ross SM, Kanehisa J, et al. Osteoclasts and osteo-blasts migrate in opposite directions in response to a constantelectrical field. J Cell Physiol. 1986;129:283–288.2. Hinkle L, McCaig CD, Robinson KR. The direction of growthof differentiating neurons and myoblasts from frog embryosin an applied electric field. J Physiol.. 1981;314:121–135.3. Roederer E, Goldberg NH, Cohen MJ. Modification of retro-grade degeneration in transected spinal axons of the lampreyby applied DC current. J Neurosci. 1983;3:153–160.4. McCaig CD, Rajnicek AM, Song B, et al. Controlling cell be-havior electrically: current views and future potential. Phys-iol Rev. 2005;85:943–978.5. Rajnicek AM, Foubister LE, McCaig CD. Alignment of lensand corneal epithelial cells by cooperative effects of substra-tum topography and DC electric fields. Biomaterials. 2008;29:2082–2095.6. Rajnicek AM, Foubister LE, McCaig CD. Prioritising guid-ance cues: directional migration induced by subtratum con-tours and electrical gradients is controlled by a rho/cdc42switch. Dev Biol. 2007;312:448–460.7. Rajnicek AM, Robinson KR, McCaig CD. The direction ofneurite growth in a weak DC electric field depends on thesubstratum: contributions of adhesivity and net surfacecharge. Dev Biol. 1998;203:412–423.8. Cooper MS, Keller RE. Perpendicular orientation and direc-tional migration of amphibian neural crest cells in DC electri-cal fields. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA Biol Sci. 1984;81:160–164.9. Rajnicek AM, Robinson KR, McCaig CD. Growth cone steer-ing by a physiological electric field requires dynamic micro-tubules, microfilaments and Rac-mediated filapodialassymmetry. J Cell Sci. 2006;119:1736–1745.10. Borgens RB, Shi R, Mohr TJ, et al. Mammalian cortical astro-cytes align themselves in a physiological voltage gradient.Exp Neurol. 1994;128:41–49.11. Erickson CA, Nuccitelli R. Embryonic fibroblast motility andorientation can be influenced by physiological electric fields.J Cell Biol. 1984;98:296–307.12. Hotary KB, Robinson KR. Endogenous electrical currents andvoltage gradients in Xenopus embryos and the consequencesof their disruption. Dev Biol. 1994;166:789–800.13. Song B, Zhao M, Forrester J, et al. Nerve regeneration andwound healing are stimulated and directed by an endoge-nous electrical field in vivo. J Cell Sci. 2004;117:4681–4690.14. McCaig CD, Allan DW, Erskine L, et al. Growing nerves in anelectric field. Neuroprotocols. 1994;4:134–141.15. Robinson KR. Endogenous and applied electrical currents:Their measurement and application. In: Electric Fields inFIG. 5. Xenopus myoblast after 10 h in a 120 mV/mm electricfield. The elongated cell has its bipolar axis oriented in a per-pendicular manner (63.4) to the field; magnification 20 · .Scale bar = 50 lm. + / signs indicate the field vector.FIG. 6. Mammalian cell stimulation. Rat cortical neuronswere stimulated with the incubatable system for 20 h at200 mV/mm. The prevalence of neurites (featured by arrows)and somal morphology seen indicate that the cells werehealthy after stimulation. Subsequent verification was per-formed with GAP-43 staining; magnification 20 · . Scale bar =50 lm. + / signs indicate the field vector.202 HICKS ET AL.Vertebrate Repair. Borgens RB, Robinson KR, Vanable Jr JW,et al. (eds.) Liss: New York; pp. 1–25; 1989.16. Cork RJ, McGinnis ME, Tsai J, et al. The growth of pc12 neu-rites is biased towards the anode of an applied electrical field.J Neurobiol. 1994;25:1509–1516.17. Pan L, Borgens RB. Strict perpendicular orientation of neuralcrest-derived neurons in vitro is dependent on an extracellu-lar gradient of voltage. J Neurosci Res. 2012;90:1335–1396.18. Pan L, Borgens RB. Perpendicular organization of sympa-thetic neurons within a required physiological voltage. ExpNeurol. 2010;222:161–164.19. National Semiconductor Corp. Lm134/Lm234/Lm334, 3-Terminal Adjustable Current Sources. DS005697; 2005.20. Tabti N, Alder J, Poo MM. Culturing spinal neurons andmuscle cells from Xenopus embryos. In: Culturing NerveCells, 2nd ed. Banker G, Goslin K. (eds.) MIT Press: Cam-bridge, MA; pp. 237–259; 1998.Address correspondence to:Addie Hicks, PhDWest Century BoulevardP.O. Box 470633Los Angeles, CA 90047E-mail: arhicks@asu.eduINCUBATABLE DC STIMULATOR FOR MAMMALIAN CELLS 203

An Incubatable Direct Current Stimulation System for In Vitro Studies of Mammalian Cells

Alignment of lens and corneal epithelial cells by cooperative effects of substratum topography and DC electric ﬁelds. Biomaterials.

Controlling cell behavior electrically: current views and future potential. Physiol Rev.

Culturing spinal neurons and muscle cells from Xenopus embryos. In: Culturing Nerve Cells,

Embryonic ﬁbroblast motility and orientation can be inﬂuenced by physiological electric ﬁelds.

Endogenous electrical currents and voltage gradients in Xenopus embryos and the consequences of their disruption. Dev Biol.

Growing nerves in an electric ﬁeld.

Growth cone steering by a physiological electric ﬁeld requires dynamic microtubules, microﬁlaments and Rac-mediated ﬁlapodial assymmetry.

Mammalian cortical astrocytes align themselves in a physiological voltage gradient. Exp Neurol.

Modiﬁcation of retrograde degeneration in transected spinal axons of the lamprey by applied DC current.

Nerve regeneration and wound healing are stimulated and directed by an endogenous electrical ﬁeld in vivo.

Osteoclasts and osteoblasts migrate in opposite directions in response to a constant electrical ﬁeld.

Perpendicular organization of sympathetic neurons within a required physiological voltage. Exp Neurol.

Perpendicular orientation and directional migration of amphibian neural crest cells in DC electrical ﬁelds.

Prioritising guidance cues: directional migration induced by subtratum contours and electrical gradients is controlled by a rho/cdc42 switch. Dev Biol.

Strict perpendicular orientation of neural crest-derived neurons in vitro is dependent on an extracellular gradient of voltage.

The direction of growth of differentiating neurons and myoblasts from frog embryos in an applied electric ﬁeld.

The direction of neurite growth in a weak DC electric ﬁeld depends on the substratum: contributions of adhesivity and net surface charge. Dev Biol.

The growth of pc12 neurites is biased towards the anode of an applied electrical ﬁeld.

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/BIORES.2012.0233

An incubatable direct current stimulation system for in vitro studies of Mammalian cells.

An incubatable direct current stimulation system for in vitro studies of Mammalian cells.

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