HUMAN NEUROCYTOMA CELLS IN CULTURE SHOW CHARACTERISTICS OF ASTROGLIALDIFFERENTIATION

Cultured human neurocytoma cells from two neurosurgical patients were analysed for their immunocytochemical staining patterns and growth cha racteristics. In both cases, the cells stained positive for glial acid ic fibrillary protein (GFAP) within one day of tissue culture in mediu m, with and without fetal calf serum, whereas the histological tumor s pecimens were negative. Both cases contained cells concomitantly expre ssing GFAP and synaptophysin (SNP) in the primary cultures. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was mitogenic for the cultured cells but not plate let derived growth factor alpha (PDGF AA) or nerve growth factor (NGF) . Pt is concluded that the human neurocytomas may represent neoplasms of a pluripotent neuroglial cell which can provide an interesting mode l to study the determinants for human glial/neuronal differentiation i n vitro. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.