Probing the neural circuitry targets of neurotoxicants in vivo through high density silicon probe brain implants

Abstract

Adverse effects of drugs on the human nervous system are rarely possible to anticipate based on preclinical neurotoxicity data, thus propagating the centuries long single most important obstacle to drug discovery and development for disorders of the nervous system. An emerging body of evidence indicates that in vivo electrophysiology using chronically implanted high-density electrodes (ciHDE) in freely moving animals is a rigorous method with enhanced potential for use in translational research. In particular, the structure and function of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit (HTC) is conserved from rodents to primates, including Homo sapiens, suggesting that the effects of therapeutic agents and other potential neurologically active agents, whether beneficial or adverse, are likely to translate across species when interrogated using a conserved neural circuitry platform. This review explores science advances in the rapidly moving field of in vivo ciHDE in animal models of learning and memory. For this reason we focus on the HTC, where substantial research has investigated neural circuitry level responses and specific behaviors that reflect memory permitting a test of the ground truth validity of the findings. Examples of changes in neural network activity induced by endogenous neurotoxicants associated with neurodegenerative diseases, as well as exogenous therapeutics, drugs, and neurotoxicants are presented. Several illustrative examples of relevant findings that involve longer range neural circuitry outside of the HTC are discussed. Lastly, the limitations of in vivo ciHDE as applied to preclinical neurotoxicology are discussed with a view toward leveraging circuitry level actions to enhance our ability to project the specificity of in vitro target engagement with the desired psychopharmacological or neurological outcome. At the same time, the goal of reducing or eliminating significant neurotoxic adverse events in human is the desired endpoint. We believe that this approach will lead to enhanced discovery of high value neuroactive therapeutics that target neural circuitry domains as their primary mechanism of action, thus enhancing their ultimate contribution toward discovery of precision therapeutics.