title: Syncytial coupling of neurons in tissue culture and early ontogenesis.
abstract: Computerized time-lapse video recording was used to detect the process of formation of syncytial couplings between the processes of different neurons in dissociated neuron cultures. These studies showed that once the processes of one neuron had formed connections with another neuron, death of the cell body (its trophic center) was not followed by Wallerian degeneration. Translocation of cytoplasmic varicosities along the branches of one neuron to another was observed over periods of several hours. Electron microscopic studies of the nerve processes of cells in the intramural intestinal plexus in the early postnatal period demonstrated all the transitional states from fusion and perforation of the membranes of contacting dendrites to complete fusion of the neuroplasm of processes with formation of residual membranous structures at the location of the former intercellular contact.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuronal Functional Morphology and Physiology, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Sotnikov
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Malashko
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Rybakova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*