MORPHOLOGY OF HIPPOCAMPUS IN TISSUE-CULTURE

Abstract

Explants of the hippocampus of newborn rats were studied neurohistologically and electron microscopically within 5-35 days of explantation. Two zones were found in the culture of the hippocampus: a zone of explant and a zone of outgrowth. Neurons, glial cells and a network of their fibers were compactly arranged in the center of the former, whereas the latter involved a layer of migrated glial cells. The explant was surrounded by glia limiting cells. Three types of neurons were identified in the long living culture of the hippocampus: pyramidal, polymorphic and granule cells. Numerous nerve endings observed in the hippocampus explant can be recognized as axodendritic, axosomatic and glomerular synapses. The availability of several types of neurons, a variety of synapses and their complication during outgrowth of the culture are suggestive of formation of functional reflex activity.