Gap Junctions Between Astrocytes During Growth and Differentiation in Organ Culture Systems

Overview

Journal Cell Tissue Res

Specialties Anatomy & Histology
Cell Biology

Date 1976 Aug 10

PMID 963727

Citations 1

Authors

J C Sipe

Affiliations

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Abstract

Fetal rat neocortex maintained in organ culture systems with the use of sponge foam matrices and millipore filter platforms undergoes growth and cytodifferentiation along classical neuronal and glial lines up to 36 days in vitro (DIV). Astrocytic differentiation is characterized by accumulation of 80-90 A glial filaments in the cell bodies and processes of astrocytes. Gap or nexus junctions closely resembling those formed in mammalian brain in situ are identified by 15 DIV. By 36 DIV, interastrocytic gap junctions are numerous and frequently join extensive lengths of adjacent glial plasma membranes. The results suggest that these organ culture systems may provide a favorable environment for the study of cellular structure and function of coupled neuroglia.

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PMID: 6771013 DOI: 10.1007/BF00237966.

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