Neurons derived from embryonal carcinoma (P19) cells express multiple GABAA receptor subunits and fully functional GABAA receptors.
The embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line P19 can be induced to differentiate into neurons and glia by treatment with retinoic acid. Neuronal cells derived from P19 stem cells were found to express messenger RNAs for alpha, beta, and gamma 2 subunits of the GABAA receptor-chloride channel complex. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recording in differentiated P19 cells revealed that these cells possess GABA receptor-activated chloride currents which are blocked by bicuculline and potentiated by flurazepam. P19 EC cells thus represent a stable neuronal cell line which expresses functional GABAA receptors with all of the characteristics of native GABAA receptors.
Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
J N
JN
Reynolds
P J
PJ
Ryan
A
A
Prasad
G D
GD
Paterno
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018118:Chloride Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A