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Studies on the mechanism determining the course of nerve fibers in tissue culture

II. The mechanism of fasciculation

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The mechanism of fascicle formation of outgrowing nerve fibers in tissue culture has been studied as an approach toward disclosing the nuture of so-called “neurotropism”.

  2. 2.

    Results obtained from observation of stained preparations as well as of living cultures by phase microscopy confirmed the fact that a liquid medium facilitates the process of fasciculation but is not a direct influence in causing fibers to associate.

  3. 3.

    Observations by means of phase cinematography revealed that fasciculation occurs as a result of active association; that is, fibers draw nearer to one another by means of their filopodia.

  4. 4.

    Some examples were cited to demonstrate clearly the forceful retraction of filopodia.

  5. 5.

    An approximate value of the force of retraction of a filopodium has been determined; the minimum value is considered to be 3×10−10 dynes.

  6. 6.

    It is concluded that outgrowing nerve fibers invade the surrounding clot by lysing it, migrate along the solid surface, and associate into bundles by the pulling action of their filopodia which possess the properties of adhesiveness, tensile strength, and retractility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Tokyo Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Junnosuke Nakai

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  1. Junnosuke Nakai
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Additional information

This research was supported by a research grant (GA BMR 5536 and RE 58196) of the Rockefeller Foundation.

A part of this research was read at the 63th General Meeting of the Japanese Association of Anatomists, Hokkaido, July 1958.

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Nakai, J. Studies on the mechanism determining the course of nerve fibers in tissue culture. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 52, 427–449 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339758

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339758

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