Rat adrenal chromaffin cells become sensitive to alpha-latrotoxin when cultured in vitro: the effect of nerve growth factor.
Previous studies showed that in the intact rat chromaffin cells are insensitive to the presynaptic stimulatory toxin, alpha-latrotoxin (alpha-LTx). In contrast, primary cultures of rat adrenal chromaffin cells respond to alpha-LTx by releasing stored catecholamines. The toxin-induced response was greater in cultures from young (8-10-day-old) than adult (40-50-day-old) animals, and increased when the time of culturing was prolonged from 4 to 20 days. Even greater responses were observed in cells cultured in the presence of nerve growth factor, a treatment which induces a neuronal-like phenotype. Acquisition of sensitivity to alpha-LTx appears to be an early marker of chromaffin cell commitment to differentiate towards a neuron.
H
H
Kobayashi
F
F
Izumi
J
J
Meldolesi
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D013111:Spider Venoms; C020763:alpha-latrotoxin