The Dynamic Observation of the Co-cultured Nodose Ganglia and Cardiac Myocytes

Objective To investigate the relationship between nodose ganglion and cardiac muscle cells.Methods The neuromuscular co-cultures of nodose ganglion and cardiac myocytes were established.The living cells of the cultures were observed with an inverted contrast microscope at different culture time.Results The nodose ganglion cells were observed with a lot of processes 48h after co-cultured with cardiac muscle cells,the processes formed a network on the surface of muscle cells 72h after co-culture,fibers terminated on the surface of muscle cells 96h after co-culture,some fiber endings bifurcated and terminated on cardiac muscle cells 78h after co-culture,some fiber endings terminated on cardiac muscle cells with fan-shape 96h after co-culture.The co-cultured cardiac muscle cells still functioned and beat well 7 days After co-culture,but the nonco-cultured cardiac muscle cells stopped beating and degenerated and died.Conclusion The co-cultured cardiac myocytes have inductive effect on nodose ganglia through the neuromuscular junction.