Myelin formation in cultures of previously dissociated mouse spinal cord

Investigations on myelination in vitro: IV. "Myelin-like" or premyelin structures in cultures of dissociated brain cells from 14--15-day-old embryonic mice

The present study reports ultrastructural and biochemical data characteristic of myelin-related structures in 30- to 41-day-old cultures of dissociated brain cells from 14- to 15-day-old embryonic mice. Multilayered membranous material was identified and displayed an alternation of electron-lucent and electron-dense lamellae with a periodicity of 102 A. In these membranes, typical myelin constituents like basic protein, cerebrosides, sulfatides, and CNPase could be identified. Although we are still unable to distinguish if these membranes are premyelin or compact myelin, which could be partly degraded, these results indicate that cultured mouse brain cells retain, to a certain extent, potential to produce myelin-related membranes.

Patterns of reaggregation and formation of linear aggregate chains in collagen-well cultures of dissociated mouse brain and spinal cord cells

With the use of the newly developed collagen-well culture technique spontaneous reaggregation of cells from dissociated embryonic mouse brain and spinal cord were studied. Within 20 h in culture, aggregates are formed and settled onto collagen substrate. Two patterns of aggregate arrangement were observed; random and linear. Linear chains of aggregates appeared to be more characteristic of dissociated spinal cord cells, although the linear patterns were not uncommon in cultures of dissociated cortex. Formation of aggregate chains appeared to be dependent on the stage of neuronal and glial differentiation. After attachment to the collagen substrate, the general pattern of aggregate organization was not greatly altered except for changes which resulted from cellular migration and proliferation, the formation of connections between aggregates, or incorporation of small aggregates into larger ones. The number of non-aggregated cells in collagen-well cultures was small. Single, non-aggregated neurons seldom survived individually. Fiber connections between aggregates began to form after the first day in vitro, and by 2 or 3 days, the growing fibers formed neuritic bridges connecting aggregates. By the end of the first week growing fibers often organized compact bundles, but part connections between aggregates were presented by separate fibers in a diffused manner. Silver impregnation revealed that these connections were formed by the axons of neurons located in the aggregates. Thus, progression of the above described processes resulted in the de' novo' formation of linear organized or random systems of interconnected neuronal centers.

The development and ultrastructure of previously dissociated foetal human cerebral cortical cells in vitro

Cells from foetal human cerebral cortex were mechanically dissociated and subsequently maintained in vitro for periods ranging between three and twenty-eight days. The ultrastructure of these cells at different stages of their development in culture was extensively examined. Nuclear and cytoplasmic features were extremely variable and a wide range of cell types was evidently represented. Of the three principal cell types found i.e. neurons, neuroglia and mesenchymal cells, only a minority of cells was classified with confidence, particularly during the first two weeks in culture. Extensive intercellular junctions of the adhaerens variety, common after 14 days in vitro were present at an earlier stage of development than synaptic profiles. First indications of synapse formation were observed after 21 days in vitro and after 24 days presynaptic sites filled with synaptic vesicles and with well defined presynaptic and postsynaptic thickenings were found. The significance of some of the features observed are both considered and discussed.