Neurites from mouse retina and dorsal root ganglion explants show specific behavior within co-cultured tectum or spinal cord.
We have utilized extracellular microiontophoretic injections of horseradish peroxidase into fetal mouse retinal explants to label retinal ganglion cell axons innervating co-cultured tectal explants in a solid Golgi-like manner. Using dorsal root ganglia-tectum and retina-spinal cord co-cultures as controls, our results indicate that retinal neurites show selective growth and arborizations within their appropriate tectal, target tissue. Retinotectal explant co-cultures may be a useful model system for studying aspects of neuronal specificity.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology