Tissue culture study on neuronal migration in the rat cerebral cortex: effects of low dose radiation.

In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal migration in the developing rat cerebral cortex, a novel primary tissue culture system in which neuronal migration can be evaluated was developed. Using this culture system, through autoradiographic studies we demonstrated the migration of [3H]thymidine labeled cells, and also revealed that this neuronal migration was delayed by such low dose radiation as 10 cGy. In addition, an immunohistochemical study revealed that the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), was undetectable in the matrix cell layer. When anti-N-CAM monoclonal antibodies were added to the tissue culture system, the neuronal migration delay was comparable with that observed in the case of 20 cGy radiation. These results suggest that N-CAM is related to neuronal migration in the rat cerebrum and that the neuronal migration delay evoked by low dose radiation might be caused by disorder of N-CAM present in the matrix cells.