Neurotransmitter Release from PC12 Cells

Abstract

PC12 is a clonal line of rat pheochromocytoma cells that upon exposure to nerve growth factor extend neurites and acquire the morphology of neurons (1,2). Both undifferentiated and nerve growth factor treated cells store and secrete dopamine and acetylcholine by a Ca2+-dependent process (1, 3–6). Approximately 35% of the cell’s acetylcholine and 60% of dopamine is contained within vesicles; the remaining portion is in the cytosol (5). Acetylcholine-containing vesicles are distinct from dopamine containing vesicles as the two types can be physically separated from each other after disruption of the cells (4). These properties makes PC12 useful for pharmacological studies in that one can compare the effects of a particular drug on two different transmitter systems in the same cell. In this paper we discuss the characteristics of the release of these two transmitters from PC12 cells.