Conjoint analysis of influence of LC-HCL and Mor-HCL on Vth and neurite length in hippocampal neuronal network

•The VTMM is an effective way to quantitatively evaluate the influence of drugs and other factors on neural networks.•LC−HCl had excitatory and inhibitory biphasic effect on the electrical excitability of neural networks, while Mor−HCl had inhibitory effect.•The combined analysis showed that the VTh and the average neurite length of hippocampal neuronal networks were strongly negatively correlated. Lidocaine hydrochloride (LC−HCl) and morphine hydrochloride (Mor−HCl) are two kinds of most prevalently used anesthetics. However, their influences on electrical excitability of hippocampal neuronal networks and hippocampal brain slices were rarely studied. Previously, our group have assessed the influence of acetylcholine, alcohol and temperature change on the excitability of neural networks with the so-called Voltage Threshold Measurement Method (VTMM) based on microelectrode array (MEA). In this paper, we will study the influence of LC−HCl and Mor−HCl on the electrical excitability of neural networks and the morphological features of neurons, and discuss the relations between the changes of electrical excitability of neural networks and the morphological changes of neurons. The results of VTMM showed: The voltage threshold (VTh) of hippocampal neuronal networks and hippocampal brain slices first increased and then decreased as the LC−HCl concentration increased. The VTh of hippocampal neuronal networks and hippocampal brain slices increased as the Mor−HCl concentration increased. The results of HCS experiments showed: The neurite length change of cultured hippocampal neuronal networks increased first and then decreased with increased LC−HCl concentration, but decreased as the Mor−HCl concentration increased. The combined analysis of VTMM and HCS experiments showed that under effects of the two drugs, the VTh and the hippocampal neurite length were strongly negatively correlated.