ABSTRACT
Neuronal death appears to occur through two general processes, acute and delayed. In addition, several features of the hippocampal slice, including its retained synaptic circuitry and neuronal-glial relationships, make the hippocampal slice particularly well suited for the study of delayed neuronal injury, especially given the prominent role that excitotoxicity appears to play in the generation of this damage. The slice techniques needed for this study are relatively straightforward and the few modifications needed are minor. The use of the hippocampal slice offers distinct advantages for the in vitro analysis of delayed neuronal injury. Techniques using brain slice preparations offer several important advantages in the investigation of delayed injury mechanisms. In exploring ways to make hippocampal slices live longer, one must first examine the reasons that slices die. Many define the death of hippocampal slices in terms of permanent loss of neuronal responsiveness.
