Nifedipine-induced morphological differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma cells.
Extension of neuronal processes is fundamental for the establishment of the intricate network of the nervous system. The rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cell line is a well-known model system for the study of neuronal differentiation. In the present study the effect of a high-voltage-activated calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, on the cell differentiation was investigated. In cells cultured in a modified medium containing nifedipine (at 2.5 microM or 5.0 microM) a decrease of mitotic activity took place on the third day of culturing. An increase of total length and number of processes occurred on the fifth day. A higher concentration of nifedipine (10.0 microM) considerably suppressed vital functions of the cells. Retraction of processes together with blocking of proliferation activity was observed. In parallel with these changes, a reduction of [Ca2+]i from 100 +/- 6 nM to 50 +/- 2 nM was detected on the second day of cultivation in 2.5 microM and 5.0 microM nifedipine containing medium. At 10.0 microM concentration of nifedipine in the medium a decrease in [Ca2+]i was observed on the first day only (to 76 +/- 8 nM); then the level of free calcium concentration rose dramatically. The data obtained allow us to suggest that the decrease of [Ca2+]i during first two days of PC12 cells culturing in a nifedipine-containing medium could be a factor which stimulated their morphological differentiation.
Starikova
A M
AM
Department of General Physiology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine.
Chvanov
M A
MA
Pogorelaya
N C
NC
Kostyuk
P G
PG
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010673:Pheochromocytoma; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium