title: NGF-differentiated and undifferentiated PC12 cells vary in induction of apoptosis by ethanol.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to determine whether the neurotoxic effects of ethanol vary between undifferentiated and differentiated neurons. For this study, untreated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and PC12 cells treated for 8-10 days with nerve growth factor (NGF) were used as models of undifferentiated and differentiated neurons, respectively. Treatment of differentiated PC12 cells with 150 mM ethanol resulted in a loss of cells whereas a similar treatment of undifferentiated cells had no effect. In contrast, 50 mM ethanol enhanced apoptosis initiated by serum withdrawal in undifferentiated cells while a similar response in the differentiated cells required 150 mM ethanol. This study demonstrates that undifferentiated and differentiated neuronal cells differ in their sensitivity to the neurotoxic actions of ethanol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14214-3000, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oberdoerster
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rabin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA