Abstract
Explants of embryonic chick sympathetic and sensory ganglia were found to exhibit asymmetric radial outgrowth of neurites under standard culture conditions with or without exogenous Nerve Growth Factor [NGF]. Opposing sides of an explant exhibited: a) differences in neurite length and, b) differences in neurite morphology. Strikingly, this asymmetry exhibited co-orientation among segregated, neighboring explants. The underlying mechanism(s) of the asymmetry and its co-orientation are not known but appear to depend on cell clustering because dissociated sympathetic neurons do not exhibit co-orientation whereas re-aggregated clusters of cells do. This emergent behavior may be similar to the community effect described in other cell types. If a similar phenomenon exists in the embryo, or in maturity, it may contribute to the establishment of proper orientation of neurite outgrowth during development and/or injury-induced neuronal plasticity.
Highlights
Neurons exhibit highly differentiated phenotypes and are among the most morphologically diverse cell types known
Sympathetic chain ganglia or sensory ganglia were dissected from embryonic chickens ranging in age from E9 to E11
This study demonstrates a seemingly simple phenomenon whereby explants of embryonic chick sympathetic or sensory ganglia exhibit asymmetric neurite outgrowth in nominally uniform growth environments
Summary
Neurons exhibit highly differentiated phenotypes and are among the most morphologically diverse cell types known. When neurons are dissociated, placed into tissue culture, and given an appropriate substrate, they extend neurites that, in some cases, mimic their phenotype in vivo, e.g., hippocampal axons and dendrites [1]. Neurons can be cultured as tissue explants and, under permissive conditions, will exhibit a profusion of neurites that form a radial halo around the core of the explanted tissue [2].
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