The growth of olfactory neurons in short-term cultures of rat olfactory epithelium.

We have found that purified astrocytes will support the growth of olfactory epithelial neurons ( OENs ) in vitro. Candidate OENs were visible by light microscopy within one day after plating of dissociated cells from neonatal rat ethmoturbinates . Electron microscopy showed that OENs expressed the unique ultrastructural features which characterize these cells in situ, showing that regulation of neuronal morphology and ultrastructure can function independently of contact with other cells of the appropriate tissue. Characteristics of the cultures are such that this in vitro system would be useful in electrophysiological investigations of the chemosensory olfactory neurons.