Figure 1.

Magnocellular neuron soma size in dissociated cultures depends on DIV and plating density. (a) The average number of vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing magnocellular neurons in baseline neuron cultures as identified through immunochemistry with PS-41 and PS-38 NP antibodies, respectively. Baseline cultures were seeded at 500 cells/mm², cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum, and immunolabeled at day 7 DIV. Data (mean ± SEM) represents five separate cultures. (b) To assess magnocellular neuron development in high-density cultures (plated at 500 cells/mm²), soma size was measured at 2, 4, 7, and 14 DIV. (c) Axon terminals can develop distinct morphologies, presumably due to the recognition of different substrate cell types. Scale bar = 100 μm. (d) Magnocellular neuron size in culture is dependent on plating density rather than serum level. For comparison, the 14 DIV data of panel b is included (500 cells/mm², 10%). In panels b and c, soma size was estimated as the mean product of the length and width. Mean ± SEM, unpaired t-test, p = 0.0001.