Astrocytes and Neurons in Co-Culture:
Enhancing Maturation and Electro-
physiological Activity
May, 2025
At Bioneer, we’ve developed a co-culture system of astrocytes and neurons that enhances neuronal maturation, connectivity, and electrophysiological performance in vitro.
We´ve implemented this approach in our human iPSC-derived models, and it forms a key component of the platform behind our new Multielectrode Array (MEA) assay service.
New poster: Functional gains with astrocyte-neuron co-culture
Our scientific poster presented at AD/PD 2025 highlights the benefits of co-culturing astrocytes and neurons for functional neuronal assays.
Using high-density MEA recordings, the following improvements were observed in co-culture compared to neuron-only cultures:
- Faster Maturation: Spontaneous electrical activity was detected as early as day 14 in co-cultures.
- Increased Activity: Co-cultures showed higher mean firing rates and spike amplitudes.
- Greater Network Engagement: A higher degree of connected signaling across active electrodes indicated enhanced connectivity.
These findings demonstrate how astrocytes actively support neuronal development and stabilize activity patterns — key for reliable in vitro modelling, particularly in neurodegenerative disease research and pharmacological screening.
A visual snapshot of neuronal activation
To illustrate these effects in a more intuitive format, we created the infographic “The Impact of Astrocytes on Neuronal Behaviour in Co-Cultures.” It offers a simplified visual metaphor of what happens when neurons are cultured alone versus with astrocytes.
In monoculture, neurons remain largely inactive. In co-culture, they “wake up” — forming networks, increasing activity, and firing more consistently.
Astrocytes and Neurons: From co-culture to reliable electrophysiological insights
Integrating astrocytes into neuronal cultures isn’t just a refinement — it’s a critical step toward producing biologically relevant, high-quality data in electrophysiological assays.
In our co-culture system, astrocytes accelerate neuronal maturation, enhance network connectivity, and support more stable and frequent spiking activity. These improvements lead to earlier and more reliable MEA recordings, helping researchers gain meaningful functional insights faster.
This co-culture approach now underpins Bioneer’s high-density Multielectrode Array assay service, enabling:
- Advanced disease modelling
- Early-stage drug screening
- Neurotoxicity testing with increased precision
Interested in how this approach could support your next project?
