OBSERVATIONS ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE RAT NEOSTRIATUM IN TISSUE-CULTURE

Cells from the neostriatum of newborn rats were cultured for 30 days in vitro. The morphology of the cultures was studied using light and phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The studies were completed by demonstration of monoamine-oxidase, acetylcholinesterase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities. During the culture period cells possessing the characteristics of mature neurons were observed. Most neurons were small to medium-sized bipolar or tripolar cells but large nerve cells were few in number. Some neurons showed a distinct acetylcholinesterase activity in the cytoplasm. Monoamine-oxidase activity was observed in both neurons and non-neural cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity was present on the surface of some flat cells, although many similar cells were devoid of activity. No catecholamine fluorescence was seen in the cultured cells but neurons as well as glial cells and flat non-neural cells took up l-DOPA. Some cells also took up dopamine at low concentrations. Several different transmitter mechanisms are involved in the neuronal organization of the neostriatum and its related regions so that its morphology is difficult to define. However, the present work shows that tissue culture is a possible approach to the study of the instrinsic neuronal organization of the neostriatum. © 1979.