Figure 1.

DCEF stimulation and quantification methodologies. (A-B) Schematic of the direct current stimulation prototype developed for in vitro experiments. A DC power supply is connected to a current regulator for allowing the application of exact voltages within the electrotactic chamber. The electrodes are placed in distinct petri dishes filled with culture media. These are in turn connected to a central petri dish - which houses the silicon chamber - by glass tubes loaded with agar gel, referred to as agar bridges. (C) Schematic of the current regulator. (D) Quantification methodology for protrusion, neurite, cell body length and angle orientation within the DCEF (astrocyte, left; neuron, right). DC, direct current; DCEF, direct current electrical field; EF, electric field; PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane; V, volt.