Chan-Young Jeon, Jae-Kwang Jin, and Young-Ho Koh contributed equally to this work.
Neurites from PC12 cells are connected to each other by synapse-like structures
Article first published online: 29 APR 2010
Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Volume 64, Issue 10, pages 765–772, October 2010
How to Cite
Jeon, C.-Y., Jin, J.-K., Koh, Y.-H., Chun, W., Choi, I.-G., Kown, H.-J., Kim, Y.-S. and Park, J.-B. (2010), Neurites from PC12 cells are connected to each other by synapse-like structures. Synapse, 64: 765–772. doi: 10.1002/syn.20789
- Issue published online: 3 AUG 2010
- Article first published online: 29 APR 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 31 DEC 2009
- Manuscript Received: 27 JUL 2009
- Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health, Welfare & Family Affairs, Republic of Korea. Grant Number: A084589
- PC12 cells;
- neurite outgrowth;
PC12 cells have been used as a model of sympathetic neurons. Nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and cAMP induce neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. cAMP induced a greater number of neurites than did NGF. In particular, we attempted to elucidate whether PC12 cell neurites, induced by several factors including NGF, bFGF, and cAMP, form synapses, and whether each neurite has presynaptic and postsynaptic properties. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we observed that neurites are connected to each other. The connected regions presented dense core vesicles and a clathrin-coated membrane invagination. In addition, typical maker proteins for axon and dendrite were identified by an immuno-staining method. Tau-1, an axonal marker in neurons, was localized at a high concentration in the terminal tips of neurites from PC12 cells, which were connected to neurite processes containing MAP-2, a dendritic marker in neurons. Furthermore, neurites containing SV2 and synaptotagmin, markers of synaptic vesicles, were in contact with neurites harboring drebrin, a marker of the postsynaptic membrane, suggesting that neurites from PC12 cells induced by NGF, bFGF, and cAMP may form synapse-like structures. Tat-C3 toxin, a Rho inhibitor, augmented neurite outgrowth induced by NGF, bFGF, and cAMP. Tat-C3 toxin together with neurotrophins also exhibited synapse-like structures between neurites. However, it remains to be studied whether RhoA inhibition plays a role in the formation of synapse-like structures in PC12 cells. Synapse 64:765–772, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.