Satellite cells in developing spinal ganglia. An immunohistochemical study

The present immunohistochemical study investigates the presence and distribution of S-100-containing glial cells in the early stages of development in human spinal ganglia. From the earliest ages investigated immunoreactive cells could be detected in a continuous layer at the periphery as well as inside ganglionic rudiments in close relationship with neural elements, both at the light and ultrastructural levels. The possibility that these glial cells, exhibiting such a distinctive distribution, play a modulatory role on microenvironmental influences during maturation could be taken into account. Neither glial fibrillary acidic protein nor myelin basic protein could be detected at the ages investigated.