PC12 Pheochromocytoma Cells: Culture, Nerve Growth Factor Treatment, and Experimental Exploitation

Abstract

This chapter presents several details regarding its culture and experimental exploitation—in particular, methods for the maintenance and nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of PC12 cultures as well as for the generation and selection of PC12 cell mutants and for the preparation of a PC12 cell fraction, which is highly enriched in neurites. One of the important advantages of the PC12 cell line is the large amount of homogeneous material it provides for experimental analysis. An example of the use of this asset is the attempt of this chapter to understand the molecular basis of the regional specializations of neurite-bearing cells. To this end, techniques have been devised for obtaining preparations, which are very highly enriched in neurites. A major characteristic of the cells is that they respond to the neuronotrophic agent nerve growth factor (NGF) by slowly shifting from a proliferating chromaffin/pheochromocytoma cell-like phenotype to that of nonproliferating, neurite-bearing sympathetic-like neuron. © 1987, Academic Press, Inc.