Elsevier

Neuroscience

Volume 16, Issue 1, September 1985, Pages 151-170
Neuroscience

Trophic interactions between the cochleovestibular ganglion of the chick embryo and its synaptic targets in culture

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4522(85)90053-3Get rights and content

Abstract

The effect of the availability of synaptic targets on neuronal survival was tested by explanting the cochleovestibular ganglion from embryonic day 3-1/2 chick embryos and maintaining it in the presence or absence of appropriate synaptic target tissues for 14 days in culture. The targets were the inner ear, peripherally, and the myelencephalon, centrally. Light and electron microscopic observations showed that the ganglion cells in the expiants with targets present had generally achieved a degree of differentiation comparable to that of their counterparts in embryonic day 14 embryos. The variety of cell types seen in the normal embryonic day 14 ganglia was also evident in vitro.

In ganglia expanted without peripheral or central targets, few neurons survived. Ganglia explanted with either peripheral or central target intact showed considerably better survival than those explanted without any target. Ganglia explanted with only the peripheral target (the inner ear) survived equally as well as those with both central and peripheral targets. Ganglia cultured with the central target (myelencephalon) did not survive as well as those with peripheral targets. The effect of the peripheral target on the ganglion was less clear-cut when ganglia were first dissected from their targets and then recombined in culture. However, the results of such experiments in which nerve fascicles were traced in serial sections from ganglia to target areas, suggest that the actual innervation of target cells, as well as proximity of ganglia to target tissues, could influence neuronal survival. Establishment of innervation appeared to be selective, in that the closest available target area was not always the one contacted by the ganglionic fibers.

The present findings are consistent with a role of neuron-target cell interactions in supporting neuronal survival in the cochleovestibular ganglion of the chick embryo. Both the central and the peripheral targets are implicated in trophic interactions with the sensory neurons.

References (51)

  • WhiteheadM.C. et al.

    The growth of cochlear fibers and the formation of their synaptic endings in the avian inner ear: a study with the electron microscope

    Neuroscience

    (1985)
  • AngelettiR.H. et al.

    Nerve growth factor from mouse submaxillary gland: amino acid sequence

  • AnnikoM. et al.

    Embryogenesis of the inner ear. I. Development and differentiation of the mammalian crista ampullaris in vivo and in vitro

    Archs Otolar.

    (1979)
  • AnnikoM. et al.

    Genesis and maturation of vestibular hair cells

    Adv. Otolar.

    (1979)
  • ArdM.D.

    Trophic interactions between the stato-acoustic ganglion of the chick embryo and its synaptic targets

  • ArdM.D. et al.

    Role of peripheral target in development of sensory neurons

    Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.

    (1981)
  • BardeY.-A. et al.

    New neurotrophic factors

    A. Rev. Physiol.

    (1983)
  • BoordR.L. et al.

    The distribution of primary lagenar fibers within the vestibular nuclear complex of the pigeon

    Brain Behav. Evol.

    (1974)
  • BoordR.L. et al.

    Projection of the cochlear and lagenar nerves on the cochlear nuclei of the pigeon

    J. comp. Neurol.

    (1963)
  • CohenG.M. et al.

    The development of hair cells in the embryonic chick's basilar papilla

    Acta oto-lar.

    (1978)
  • D'Amico-MartelA.

    Temporal patterns of neurogenesis in avian cranial sensory and autonomic ganglia

    Am. J. Anat.

    (1982)
  • EvansH.J.

    The independent differentiation of the sensory areas of the avian inner ear

    Biol. Bull.

    (1943)
  • FellH.B.

    The development in vitro of the isolated otocyst of the embryonic fowl

    Arch. exp. Zellforsch.

    (1928)
  • FriedmannI.

    In vitro culture of the isolated otocyst of the embryonic fowl

    Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol.

    (1956)
  • FriedmannI.

    The innvervation of the developing fowl embryo otocyst in vivo and in vitro

    Acta otolaryngol.

    (1969)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text