Quantitative morphological analysis of embryonic cockroach (Periplaneta americana) brain neurons developing in vitro

Neurons dissociated from the brain of embryonic cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) can be maintained in culture for several weeks. The survival as well as the progressive organization of the neurons into a complex network was studied during a 5-week period under different culture conditions. About 10% of the dissociated cells adhered to the culture dish. This figure remained constant throughout the culture. The cell diameter ranged from 10 to 20 microns and did not change significantly over time in culture. Whereas only a few cells exhibited neurites at the start of the culture, the number of cells exhibiting neurites increased to reach about 99% after 2 weeks. The different cells were then connected to each other, forming a network, which became more and more complex. The number of cells per cluster as well as the length and the diameter of the "connectives" that linked the different clusters were found to increase with time. The morphology of individual neurons within the network was visualized after intracellular injection of biocytin. Labeling with antibodies raised against serotonin or GABA indicated that neurons were able to differentiate and to acquire specific neurotransmitter fates. The serotonergic phenotype was found to appear progressively throughout the culture, in parallel with the formation of the network. Cell density, addition of fetal calf serum, and ecdysone were shown to influence the development of the network.