Scanning electron microscopical observations on telencephalon explants cultivated in vitro

Telencephalon explants from 10 or 12 days old chicken embryos were cultivated 2 days in vitro and investigated by SEM. Already at that day, nerve fibres forming thick fasciculi were observed in the outgrowth region of the explant. Neuritic growth cones of the filiforme, or lamellipodiale type were demonstrated as well as button-like dendritic growth cones. The cell somata of bipolar or multipolar neuroblasts and pyramidal neurons could be distinguished from those of astrocytes. Some nerve fibres establish axosomatic or axodendritic contacts, basket-like arrangements of axon terminals around small neuroblasts were found.