Aluminum affects interconnections between aggregates of cultured hippocampal neurons. Neurotoxicity of aluminum in vitro.

The effect of aluminum (Al) was studied in an in vitro system of cultured hippocampal neurons from fetal rats in a chemically defined medium. Neuronal aggregates interconnected by neurites were detected light and electron microscopically in control and Al-treated cultures. In the Al-treated cultures disruptions of the fibers were observed proximal to the aggregates; the number of disruptions increased with The Al concentration applied. It is concluded that interference of intracellular Al with the neuronal skeleton occurs, leading to an enhanced fragility of the interconnecting neurites. The concentration-dependent Al-induced disruption of interconnecting neurites may serve as an in vitro model for further research in Al neurotoxicity.

The development of different regions of the spinal cord of the developing chicken embryo under normal and experimental conditions. Acid phosphatase section histochemistry combined with ultramicrochemistry.

Sciatic section ws performed in chicken embryos of 8 and 10 days of incubation. They were sacrificed 4 dys later. Acid phosphatase (AcP) was determined with ultramicrochemical methods in several regions of the grey matter of the lumbar spinal cord. The necrosis of anterior horn cells was accompanied by a strong increase in AcP activity. Furthermore, a significant rise in AcP activity in the basal part of the contralateral posterior horn was observed. This rise was not paralleled by any obvious change in th morphology of this region.