DEVELOPMENT OF ASTROCYTES AND NEURONS IN CULTURED BRAIN-SLICES FROM MICE LACKING CONNEXIN43

Astrocyte and neuronal development was investigated in organotypic bra in slice cultures from mouse fetuses with a null mutation in the conne xin43 gene. Astrocyte morphology and electrical properties were indist inguishable in null mutant slices and control slices but at Is days in vitro astrocyte density in the central regions of the null mutant sli ces was significantly higher than in control slices. Neuronal developm ent assessed morphologically and electrophysiologically appeared norma l in the mutant slices. These results suggest that intercellular commu nication mediated through connexin43 is not essential for the developm ent of astrocytes and neurons but may play a role in regulating astroc ytic migration.