A Combinedin Ovo-in VitroSystem for Studies of Volatile Compounds on Brain Development: Differential Effects of Carbon Tetrachloride on Neurones and Astrocytes

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Abstract
A method for studies of organic solvent effects on the development of neurones and astrocytes is described. Chick embryos in ovo were exposed to a low concentration of carbon tetrachloride vapours. After the exposure, primary cultures of neurones and astrocytes were prepared from the brain hemispheres of the embryos. Toxic effects of the solvent were analyzed in the cultures during the course of cellular differentiation as changes in cell growth and morphology, respiratory activity, and biochemical properties characteristic of each cell type. The development of neurones from embryos exposed from day 5 to day 8 to 25 p.p.m. of carbon tetrachloride was not affected by the exposure. On the other hand, growth rate and respiratory activity of astrocytes from embryos exposed from day 11 to day 14 to 25 p.p.m. of CCl4 were affected by the exposure, whereas no morphological changes or changes in the cyclic AMP levels could be observed. Consequently, low concentrations of carbon tetrachloride seem to affect the development of astrocytes rather than that of neurones in our experimental system.