Cell Junction and Ultrastructural Development of Reaggregated Mouse Brain Cultures

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Abstract
The morphological development of reaggregated embryonic mouse brain cells was followed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Initially, the reaggregated cells are loosely packed and lack specialized cell junctions; however, after 2–4 days puncta adhaerens junctions are numerous. The first immature synapses are seen at 8–9 days of culture. These synaptic complexes mature in appearance and increase ∼3-fold in number during the next 3 weeks of culture. Two distinct, electron dense, intercellular specializations, apparently unique to neural cell cultures, are observed in these older cultures. Brain cell reaggregates observed at 2, 3, and 5 months of culture show signs of aging, i.e., a gradual decrease in the number of synapses, myelin degeneration and increased lipofuscin granules.

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