The early outgrowth of catecholaminergic fibers and the development of the nucleus of the locus coeruleus in tissue culture of newborn mice in Leighton tubes.

A simple and reliable method of sampling explants from the nucleus of the Locus Coeruleus of newborn mice and their cultivation in Leighton tubes is described. This technique reliably provides cultures available for experiments lasting, at least, ten days. The cells of the nucleus of the Locus Coeruleus and newly formed norepinephrine-containing fibers are demonstrated by fluorescence histochemistry together with pharmacological tests. Their morphological characteristics before and after fixation and staining are described. Electron microscopy confirmed the healthy condition of these cultures.