Hippocampus slice model

Kerr et al. [32] developed an assay based on an in vitro neurophysiological model. This assay measured changes in antidromic and orthodromic spike amplimdes and afferent action potential volley in rat hippocampus slices after toxin exposure. The authors felt they could differentiate brevetoxins, saxitoxin, and domoic acid from characteristic signatures based on these parameters. The assay was relatively rapid and was also demonstrated to be useful in the evaluation of shellfish extracts. However, the use of animals, plus the complexities of tissue preparation and the need for expensive equipment and highly trained operators severely limited the usefulness of this assay. 

In the electrophysiological ex vivo model referred to earlier, in which slices of rat hippocampus were used, moxifloxacin displayed a comparable potential to ciprofloxacin for inducing CNS side effects [113]. 

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