Histological examination of the Nissl and Golgi stained neurons revealed that the amygdalar embryonic grafts survive in the adult rat brain. Some quantitative characteristics, such as index of the parenchymal integration, growth potential, neuronal density and vascularization index were used for objective estimation of the graft development. The qualitative and quantitative analysis have shown that the localization of the graft in the host brain is one of the main factors determining the survival success. The grafts revealed the least survival in the host cortex. The grafts which were placed in the ventricular cavity displayed better survival. Amygdalar grafts with subcortical localization gave the best results of survival. In the "good" grafts normally differentiated neurons and glial cells were observed. The ingrowth of capillaries in the grafts could be found. The Golgi impregnation revealed the formation of the common neuropile between the grafts and the host brain. Structural integration of donor and host brain tissues provides a good model for investigation not only of the functional recovery of the neural interconnections, but also of changes in the behavior controlled by amygdalar structures.
Amygdala Animals