Region-specific neuro-astroglial interactions: ultrastructural study of the in vitro expression of neuronal polarity

Mesencephalic neurons were cultured for 2 days on mesencephalic or striatal astrocyte monolayers. The morphology of these neurons was studied in electron microscopy. The number of dendritic profiles was higher on mesencephalic astrocytes (homotopic neuro-astroglial co-cultures) than on striatal astrocytes (heterotopic co-cultures). This increase in the number of dendrites correlated with a more mature aspect of the neurons. Striatal neurons were also cultured on the astrocytic monolayers. The state of maturation of these neurons was more advanced, and the number of their dendrites was higher on striatal than on mesencephalic astrocytes. These results confirm and extend the fact that neuronal maturation and dendritic growth can be regulated through region-specific neuro-astroglial interactions (Denis-Donini et al., 1984; Chamak et al., 1987).