Serotonin as a stimulator of hippocampal cell differentiation in tissue culture.

The effects of serotonin (5-HT) on morphofunctional development of hippocampal cultures derived from newborn rats were studied. It was established that systematic addition of 5-HT to nutrient medium during cultivation stimulates neuropil development, axon myelination and synaptogenesis. Electrophysiological studies of hippocampal cells in 5-HT treated cultures showed earlier exhibition of spontaneous activity and an increased number of spontaneously firing neurons and prevalence of periodic (bursting) type of discharges. These results indicate that 5-HT stimulates the differentiation of hippocampal cells in tissue culture.