Adrenal chromaffin cells form functional cholinergic synapses in culture

Abstract

Adrenomedullary cells and autonomic ganglion cells originate from the neural crest. Both cell types synthesize, store and release catecholamines; however, their structural and functional properties are distinctly different. Aloe and Levi-Montalcini have shown in vivo that when the adrenal medulla is exposed to exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) most cells differentiate into neuronal cells substantially similar to sympathetic neurones. Experiments in vitro have also shown that neonatal as well as adult adrenal chromaffin cells and their neoplastic correlate (PC12 cells) undergo neurone-like morphologic differentiation in response to NGF. From these morphological and biochemical studies alone, however, it remains uncertain whether the functional neuronal transformation is also accompanied. We report here that the adrenal chromaffin cells in culture can differentiate into neuronal cells having functional synapses which were found to be cholinergic in nature. Furthermore, the type of synaptic vesicles in the newly formed synapses was apparently dependent upon K+ levels in the culture medium.

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“…For example, synaptic vesicles have been found in many non-neuronal cells including pinealocytes [120], chromaffin [121,122] and pancreatic beta cells [123]. Receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate have also been found in non-neuronal cells including retinal pigment epithelial [124], urinary bladder epithelial, prostate epithelial cells [125] as well as osteoblasts [126-129].…”

Protective effects of NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine, against senescence of PC12 cells: A possible role of nNOS and combined effects with donepezil

“…They were cultured and treated with 2.5S nerve growth factor (NGF, 50 ng/ml, Alomone Labs Ltd., Jerusalem, Israel) to induce differentiation into neuronal cells (Ogawa et al, 1984). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were purchased from Cambrex (Walkersville, MD, USA).…”

Gene Expression in Differentiating and Transdifferentiating Neural Crest Cells

“…5A), an adrenal medullary pheochromocytoma tumor line (Greene and Tischler 1976) that has many properties of a committed adrenergic precursor and which responds to NGF with neurite outgrowth. This induction is also observed in primary cultures of dissociated neonatal adrenal chromaffin cells exposed to NGE In situ hybridization to adrenal chromaffin cell cultures in the presence of NGF revealed that those cells that converted to a neuronal morphology (Unsicker et al 1978;Naujoks et al 1982;Ogawa et al 1984;Doupe et al 1985a) also expressed SCG10 mRNA at high levels (Fig. 6A,B).…”