BEATRICE MIHAELA RADU*, M. RADU**, D.D. BANCIU*

*Department of Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Center of Neurobiology and Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95, Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest, 050095, Romania
**Department of Health and Environmental Physics, ”Horia Hulubei” National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Atomiştilor, 407, Măgurele, 077125, Romania

Abstract. Neurite outgrowth was observed for the neuronal networks formed in primary neuronal cultures from dorsal root ganglia. Their activity was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy technique in order to evidence the level of calcium ions (calcium imaging) in cytosol of the neurons. Cells were loaded with calcium fluorescent dye Calcium Green-I. Using this technique; we have evidenced the spontaneous oscillations of the cytosolic calcium concentration in neurons coupled in a network. We have proved the synchronization and periodicity of these oscillations. The potassium chloride addition stimulates the neurons by producing a large and transient increase of the cytosolic calcium that proves the functionality of the neuronal network.
Key words: Neurite outgrowth, sensory neurons, calcium imaging, oscillations.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: beatrice_macri@yahoo.com

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