Retinal,cell aggregates develop in culture in a pattern similar to the in ovo retina, forming neurites first and then synapses. In the present study, we continuously exposed chick retinal cell aggregates to a high concentration (1 mM) of carbamylcholine (carbachol), an acetylcholine (ACh) analog that resists hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This situation is similar to organophosphorus anticholinesterase poisoning in which the ACh level is elevated at synaptic junctions due to inhibition of AChE, Our objective was to determine whether continuous carbachol exposure either damaged cholino- ceptive neurites, cell bodies, and synaptic elements of the aggregates or influenced (hastened or retarded) their development.The retinal tissue was isolated aseptically from 11 day embryonic White Leghorn chicks and then enzymatically (trypsin) and mechanically (trituration) dissociated into single cells. After washing the cells by repeated suspension and low (about 200 x G) centrifugation twice, aggregate cell cultures (about l0 cells/culture) were initiated in 1.5 ml medium (BME, GIBCO) in 35 mm sterile culture dishes and maintained as experimental (containing 10-3 M carbachol) and control specimens.
