Drug-induced peripheral neuropathy occurs as a major adverse effect of chemotherapy. However, a highly accurate assessment platform for drug-induced peripheral neuropathy and pain has not been established yet. In the present study, we introduced a CMOS-MEA system with high spatiotemporal resolution, to detect electrophysiological activity of cultured DRG neurons.
The CMOS-MEA that consists of 236,880 electrodes, makes it possible to identify each single soma of active DRG neurons. Therefore, the spike pattern of each single neuron is able to be demonstrated before and after cumulative additions of TRP channel agonist (i.e., capsaicin, AITC and menthol). And we found that paclitaxel, a wildly used anticancer drug, could sensitive DRG response to capsaicin burning by spike pattern analysis. After identifying the axonal conduction pathway, we also calculated the velocity of axonal conduction from each neuron, and the result showed to be in a reasonable range. The mean conduction velocity could be increased by administration of vincristine, which is known to cause peripheral neuropathy.
Using CMOS-MEA system with high spatiotemporal resolution, we succeed in evaluating spike pattern at single neuron level and measuring axonal conduction velocity in cultured DRG neurons. And changes in these parameters of DRG neuron response to anti-cancer drugs could also be detected, suggesting that this system is effective for assessment of drug-induced peripheral neuropathy and pain.