Summary
-
1.
A simple method is described for the location and ultrathin sectioning of selected areas of the outgrowth from chick spinal cord in vitro.
-
2.
What appear by light microscopy to be single outgrowing fibres are commonly (but not invariably) bundles of processes. Some are so small as to be beyond the limits of light microscopical resolution. Over appreciable distances bundles may have no supporting cells associated with them.
-
3.
Within the outgrowth, synaptic profiles have been observed, and it is suggested that they are newly formed during culture.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andres, K. M.: Micropinozytose im Zentralnervensystem. Z. Zellforsch. 64, 63–73 (1964).
Bunge, R., M. B. Bunge, E. Peterson, and M. Murray: Ultrastructural similarities between in vitro and in vivo central nervous tissue. Abstracts Third Annual Meeting Amer. Soc. for Cell Biology. J. Cell Biol. 19 11a (1963).
Bunge, R. P., M. B. Bunge, and E. R. Peterson: An electron microscopic study of cultured rat spinal cord. J. Cell Biol. 24, 163–191 (1965).
Callas, G., and W. Hild: Electron microscopic observations of synaptic endings in cultures of mammalian central nervous tissue. Z. Zellforsch. 63, 686–691 (1964).
Colonnier, M., and R. W. Guillery: Synaptic organisation in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the monkey. Z. Zellforsch. 62, 333–355 (1964).
Crain, S. M.: Development of “organotypic” bioelectric activities in central nervous tissues during maturation in culture. Int. Rev. Biol. 9, 1–43 (1966).
—, and E. R. Peterson: Onset and development of functional relations within and between explants of mammalian spinal cord-ganglia during differentiation in vitro. Anat. Rec. 151, 340 (1965).
De Robertis, E., and J. R. Sotelo: Electron microscope study of cultered nervous tissue. Exp. Cell. Res. 3, 433–452 (1952).
Dilly, P. N., E. G. Gray, and J. Z. Young: Electron microscopy of optic nerves and optic lobes of Octopus and Eledone. Proc. roy. Soc. B. 158, 446–456 (1963).
Elfvin, L. G.: Electron Microscopic investigation of filament structures in unmyelinated fibres of cat splenic nerve. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 5, 51–64 (1961).
Glees, P., and B. L. Shepherd: Electron microscopic studies of the synapses in the developing chick spinal cord. Z. Zellforsch. 62, 356–362 (1964).
Gray, E. G., and R. W. Guillery: Synaptic morphology in the normal and degenerating nervous system. Int. Rev. Cytol. 19, 111–178 (1966).
—, and V. P. Whittaker: The isolation of nerve endings from brain: An electron microscopic study of cell fragments derived by homogenization and centrifugation. J. Anat. (Lond.) 96, 79–88 (1962).
Lyser, K. M.: Early differentiation of motor neuroblasts in the chick embryo as studied by electron microscopy. 11. Microtubules and Neurofilaments. Develop. Biol. 17, 117–142 (1968).
Meller, K., J. Eschner, and P. Glees: The differentiation of endoplasmic reticulum in developing neurons of the chick spinal cord. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 189–197 (1966).
Peachey, L. D.: A device for staining tissue section for Electron Microscopy. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 5, 511–513 (1958).
Peterson, E. R., S. M. Crain, and M. R. Murray: Differentiation and prolonged maintenance of bioelectrically active spinal cord cultures (rat, chick and human). Z. Zellforsch. 66, 130–154 (1965).
Rall, W., G. M. Shepherd, T. S. Reese, and M. W. Brightman: Dendrodendritic synaptic pathway for inhibition in the Olfactory Bulb. Exp. Neurol. 14, 44–56 (1966).
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).
Robertson, J. D.: The unit membrane of cells and mechanisms of myelin formation. In: Ultrastructure and metabolism of the nervous system, vol. 40, p. 94–158. Research Publications. Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease, U.S.A. 1962.
Sandborn, E., P. F. Koen, J. D. McNabb, and G. Moore: Cytoplasmic microtubules in mammalian cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 11, 123–138 (1964).
Vaughn, J. E., and A. Peters: Electron microscopy of the early postnatal development of fibrous astrocytes. Amer. J. Anat. 121, 131–152 (1967).
Wechsler, W., and K. Meller: Electron microscopy of neuronal and glial differentiation in the developing brain of the chick. Progr. Brain Res. 26, 93–144 (1967).
Weiss, P.: Neuronal dynamics. Neurosciences Res. Progr. Bull. 5, 371–400 (1967).
—, and H. B. Hiscoe: Experiments on the mechanism of nerve growth. J. exp. Zool. 107, 315–395 (1948).
Young, J. Z.: The functional repair of nervous tissue. Phys. Rev. 22, 318–374 (1942).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are grateful to Miss Eva Franke and Miss Zophia Bienkowska for skilled technical assistance, and to Mr. A. Aldrich, Mr. D. Gunn, and Mr. S. Waterman for photography.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grainger, F., James, D.W. & Tresman, R.L. An electron-microscopic study of the early outgrowth from chick spinal cord in vitro. Z. Zellforsch 90, 53–67 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496702
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496702