title: Extracellular matrix effects on a neuroblastoma cell line.
abstract: Cells of various lines assume similar shapes when grown attached to substrates like coverslips. In contrast, cells cultured in a collagen and/or laminin matrix often assume a relatively normal morphology in comparison with their in situ counterparts. During investigations of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, an attempt was made to identify culture conditions which would cause the cells to assume a more regular shape. SH-SY5Y cells cultured on bare coverslips, on coverslips coated with rat-tail collagen, and in approximately 1 mm thick gels containing extracellular matrix components were compared. Striking differences were apparent when comparing the gel-cultured cells with cells cultured on coverslips. Cells grown in the gel formed ganglia-like clusters which generated bundles of neurites which targeted other 'ganglia'. The same cells grown on coverslips, whether or not they were collagen-coated, appeared unaware of the presence of other cells, and did not cluster, nor did they generate neurites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos 78666, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koke
mesh_terms: D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005782:Gels; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012235:Rhodamines; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005782:Gels; D012235:Rhodamines; D010590:Phalloidine; C041085:tetramethylrhodaminylphalloidine; D003094:Collagen