All processes of living organisms examined with suitable and sufficiently sensitive measuring techniques generate electric fields that must be regarded as one of the most universal properties of living organisms. Many studies have demonstrated that bioelectrochemical signals exist in plants at all levels of evolution (action potentials or excitation waves). AP are possible mechanisms for intercellular and intracellular communication in the presence of environment changes. Plants respond to environmental stimuli and excitation can be dispersed throughout the entire plant, travelling from the top of the stem to the root and from the root to the top of the stem. Though excitation waves appear strongly after stimulation, a basic electrical activity can be found in the whole plant. The theoretical description of the electrical activity and the propagating model through single cells is still not understood. Simultaneous multisite recording is a prerequisite to understand the nature of electrical phenomena. For extracellular recording from electrogenic cells pursuing these goals, substrate integrated, planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been developed to monitor spikes and local field potentials. A typical setup for MEA recording is based on metal microelectrodes fabricated on a planar chip, discrete-element preamplifiers located close to the MEA device and a multi-wire cable that conducts the pre-amplified analog signals to a data acquisition card. Here we report for the first time recordings of single-unit spike activity with MEAs in acute slice of Zea mays L. root apex. Field potentials were recorded simultaneously from 60 electrodes (30 μm diameter) with high spatial and temporal resolution. This new technique allowed us to map functionally discrete regions of the root and to observe the space-time relationships and the spontaneous, synchronous electrical activity of the root apex. The nature of spike shapes has been studied on each MEA electrodes (200 μm interelectrode spacing). We conclude that extracellular recording of independent single-unit spike activity with MEAs is indeed suitable to monitor electrical network activity in root apex, making MEAs an exceptionally useful tool for the assessment of fast network dynamics in plants.

Detecting electrical network activity in root apex by multielectrode arrays (MEAs) / E.Masi; Ciszak M.; Montina A.; Malachovska V.; S.Mugnai; Azzarello E.; Pandolfi C.; Renna L.; Stefano G.; Voigt B.; Hlavacka A.; F.Arecchi; S.Mancuso. - ELETTRONICO. - (2007), pp. 1-2. (Intervento presentato al convegno ATTI DEL 3RD SYMPOSIUM ON PLANT NEUROBIOLOGY tenutosi a STRBSKE PLESO - SLOVACCHIA nel 14-18 maggio 2007).

Detecting electrical network activity in root apex by multielectrode arrays (MEAs)

MASI, ELISA;MUGNAI, SERGIO;AZZARELLO, ELISA;PANDOLFI, CAMILLA;Stefano G.;ARECCHI, FORTUNATO TITO;MANCUSO, STEFANO
2007

Abstract

All processes of living organisms examined with suitable and sufficiently sensitive measuring techniques generate electric fields that must be regarded as one of the most universal properties of living organisms. Many studies have demonstrated that bioelectrochemical signals exist in plants at all levels of evolution (action potentials or excitation waves). AP are possible mechanisms for intercellular and intracellular communication in the presence of environment changes. Plants respond to environmental stimuli and excitation can be dispersed throughout the entire plant, travelling from the top of the stem to the root and from the root to the top of the stem. Though excitation waves appear strongly after stimulation, a basic electrical activity can be found in the whole plant. The theoretical description of the electrical activity and the propagating model through single cells is still not understood. Simultaneous multisite recording is a prerequisite to understand the nature of electrical phenomena. For extracellular recording from electrogenic cells pursuing these goals, substrate integrated, planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been developed to monitor spikes and local field potentials. A typical setup for MEA recording is based on metal microelectrodes fabricated on a planar chip, discrete-element preamplifiers located close to the MEA device and a multi-wire cable that conducts the pre-amplified analog signals to a data acquisition card. Here we report for the first time recordings of single-unit spike activity with MEAs in acute slice of Zea mays L. root apex. Field potentials were recorded simultaneously from 60 electrodes (30 μm diameter) with high spatial and temporal resolution. This new technique allowed us to map functionally discrete regions of the root and to observe the space-time relationships and the spontaneous, synchronous electrical activity of the root apex. The nature of spike shapes has been studied on each MEA electrodes (200 μm interelectrode spacing). We conclude that extracellular recording of independent single-unit spike activity with MEAs is indeed suitable to monitor electrical network activity in root apex, making MEAs an exceptionally useful tool for the assessment of fast network dynamics in plants.
2007
Atti del III Symposium on Plant Neurobiology
ATTI DEL 3RD SYMPOSIUM ON PLANT NEUROBIOLOGY
STRBSKE PLESO - SLOVACCHIA
E.Masi; Ciszak M.; Montina A.; Malachovska V.; S.Mugnai; Azzarello E.; Pandolfi C.; Renna L.; Stefano G.; Voigt B.; Hlavacka A.; F.Arecchi; S.Mancuso
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/318777
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