Application of the chemical imaging sensor to electrophysiological measurement of a neural cell

The chemical imaging sensor is applied to electrophysiological measurement of a neural cell. In this method, neural cells are cultured directly on the sensing surface, and a laser beam is used to specify a cell to be measured. The amplitude of the ac photocurrent induced by the laser beam is measured to detect the change of the membrane potential of the cell. In this study, the membrane potential of the cell is varied by injection of a de current, and it is demonstrated that the ac photocurrent signal responds to the membrane potential. This method would enable noninvasive electric measurement of neural cells, networks or tissues under long-term culture. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.