Brain macrophages in cerebellar cell cultures

Brain macrophages were studied in dispersed monolayer cultures of post-natal mouse cerebella. The phagocytotic activity, binding of immunoglobulins, presence and characteristics of nucleoside diphosphatases as well as argentophilia and lipid distribution were tested, with results similar to those for brain macrophages in vivo and for other macrophages in vitro. The macrophages in the cultures showed four different forms with continuous transition from one form to the following and subsequent cell death. No signs of proliferation of this cell type was found. Dynamic investigations showed repelling of neuronal growth cones by certain macrophages, resulting in the formation of areas devoid of neuronal and glial processes around the macrophages. An in vitro model for these cells, described by other authors as being important in post-natal reshaping of the brain, is presented and investigated in this study.