PC-12 Cells

PC-12 cells are a cell line derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla. These cells are of embryonic origin, grow adherently and resemble a mixture of neuroblastic and eosinophilic cells. PC-12 cells are catecholamine cells that synthesize, store and release norepinephrine and dopamine. They have a diameter of approximately 10-12 microns and are small, irregularly shaped cells. The PC12 cell line is a classical neuronal cell model due to its ability to acquire sympathetic neuron features when dealing with nerve growth factor (NGF).
Studies on dopamine regulation have shown that PC12 cells synthesize, release, and reuptake dopamine and have been extensively characterized for neurosecretion and the presence of ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. Moreover, the relative proportion of various subtypes of Ca channels changes during differentiation. The PC12 cell line is an established neuronal cell model that is particularly useful in studying cellular responses to nerve growth factors (NGF) and how these lead to the expression of differentiation-specific proteins and differentiation. When cultured in NGF, PC12 cells differentiate into sympathetic ganglion neurons morphologically and functionally. The differentiation results from the reversible induction of a neuronal phenotype by NGF. Collagen coating has been shown to be favourable to achieving neuronal characteristics in terms of length and density of neurites by NGF treatment.
PC12 cells are tumorigenic and were derived from male New England Deaconess Hospital strain rats. The PC-12 cell line has 40 chromosomes, 38 autosomes, plus xY. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is expressed in PC12 cells, and exposure to NGF is one crucial regulator of cell differentiation.
In conclusion, PC12 cells are a versatile and widely used model system in neurobiology due to their ability to acquire sympathetic neuron features when dealing with nerve growth factor (NGF). These cells have been extensively characterized for neurosecretion, ion channels, and neurotransmitter receptors. Their extreme versatility for pharmacological testing and use as an established model for studying the proliferation and differentiation of neuronal cells make them a valuable tool in neurobiology research.