Electric field-induced orientation of rat hippocampal neurones in vitro.

Rat hippocampal neurones in primary culture exhibited directional growth in response to DC electric fields. Neurites lay perpendicular to the field after exposure to 28, 80 or 219 mV/mm but there was no orientation effect at 9 mV/mm or in unexposed control cultures. Fields that evoked perpendicular responses also reduced the number of cathode-facing neurites. Orientation was the same for neurite initiation sites and the direction of overall neurite growth.