Immortalization of embryonic mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons by somatic cell fusion

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(91)90661-E

Brain Research

Volume 552, Issue 1, 21 June 1991, Pages 67-76

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)90661-E Get rights and content

Abstract

To facilitate the study of trophic interactions between mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons and their target cells, clonal hybrid cell lines have been developed from rostral mesencephalic tegmentum (RMT) of the 14-day-old embryonic mouse employing somatic cell fusion techniques. Among the hybrid cell lines obtained, one contains a high level of dopamine (DA), another predominantly 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine (DOPA), and a third no detectable catecholamines. The hybrid nature of the cell lines is supported by karyotype analysis and by the expression of adhesion molecules as assessed by aggregation in rotation-mediated cell culture. The DA cell line shows neuronal properties including catecholamine-specific histofluorescence, neurite formation with immunoreactivity to neurofilament proteins, and large voltage-sensitive sodium currents with the generation of action potentials. In contrast to the pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12), the dopamine content of the DA hybrid cell line is depleted by low concentrations of N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP⁺), the active metabolite of the neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

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^*: Present address: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, U.S.A.

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Immortalization of embryonic mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons by somatic cell fusion

Abstract

Dev. Biol.

Neuroscience

Meth. Enzymol.

Brain Research

J. Neurosci. Methods

Neuroscience

Brain Research

Cell

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

Dev. Brain Res.

J. Chromatogr.

Anal. Biochem.

Biochim. Biophys. Acta

Brain Research

Neurotransmitter synthesis by neuroblastoma clones

Developments in neuronal cell culture

Nature

Immortalization of mouse neuronal precursor cells byc-myc oncogene

New neuronal growth factors

Annu. Rev. Neurosci.

Selection for neuroblastoma cells that synthesize certain transmitters

Immortalization of neural cells via retrovirus-mediated oncogene transduction

Annu. Rev. Neurosci.

Fluorescence of catecholamines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde

J. Histochem. Cytochem.

Membrane patches and whole-cell membranes: a comparison of electrical properties in rat clonal pituitary (GH3) cells

J. Physiol.

Neuronal properties of hybrid neuroblastoma x sympathetic ganglion cells

The Nerve Growth Factor: biochemistry, synthesis, and mechanism

Annu. Rev. Neurosci.

Establishment of a noradrenergic clonal line of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells which responds to nerve growth factor

The development of some external features on mouse embryos

J. Hered.