PC12 cells
Encyclopedia
PC12 is a cell line derived from a pheochromocytoma
of the rat
adrenal medulla
. PC12 cells stop dividing and terminally differentiate
when treated with nerve growth factor
. This makes PC12 cells useful as a model system for neuronal differentiation.
Pheochromocytoma
A pheochromocytoma or phaeochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor of the medulla of the adrenal glands , or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue that failed to involute after birth and secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines, usually noradrenaline , and adrenaline to a lesser extent...
of the rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
adrenal medulla
Adrenal medulla
The adrenal medulla is part of the adrenal gland. It is located at the center of the gland, being surrounded by the adrenal cortex. It is the innermost part of the adrenal gland, consisting of cells that secrete epinephrine , norepinephrine , and a small amount of dopamine in response to...
. PC12 cells stop dividing and terminally differentiate
Cellular differentiation
In developmental biology, cellular differentiation is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type. Differentiation occurs numerous times during the development of a multicellular organism as the organism changes from a simple zygote to a complex system of...
when treated with nerve growth factor
Nerve growth factor
Nerve growth factor is a small secreted protein that is important for the growth, maintenance, and survival of certain target neurons . It also functions as a signaling molecule. It is perhaps the prototypical growth factor, in that it is one of the first to be described...
. This makes PC12 cells useful as a model system for neuronal differentiation.
External links
- Wikipedia articles containing the term "PC12 cells" http://www.google.de/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=site%3Aen.wikipedia.org%20PC12%20cells&btnG=Google+Search
- table of common cell lines including PC12 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mboc4.table.1515, from Alberts 4th edition at NCBI bookshelf
- Ras function was partially elucidated using PC12 cell line http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=PC12&rid=cmed6.section.1080%231085&WebEnv=0HOhQ10ImJdCL8QWhv8jmakihA5e0QxWqJ9y9n6jvarcLiUb7GMU98BOrUDQVrkDGg5Ona-7T5nkW-%40D45D6EC76612AEB0_0018SID&WebEnvRq=1, from section in Cancer Medicine textbook
- Section on neural transmission http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=PC12&rid=bnchm.section.688#697 has several references to PC12 cell line