Abstract
The properties of binucleate cells in cultures of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells were studred using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. DRG cells from newborn and adult rats were cultured in serum-free medium. Binucleate cells were identified after 6 days of culture and accounted for about 5% of the neuronal population. There was no difference in the relative frequency Of binucleate cells between cultures from newborns and adults. Binucleate neurons were of medium or large size; in particular, the binucleate neurons in the adult DRG cultures were twice the size of those in the cultures from newborns. The binucleate neurons had spherical and elliptical nuclei and were healthy not degenerating. These cells were immunoreactive for microtubule associated protein-2, neurofilament protein, and substance P, but not for tyrosine hydroxylase. The presence of anti-substance P immunostaining in the absence of tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining indicates that, these binucleate neurons have properties of sensory neurons.
