GENE-EXPRESSION IN THE ELECTRICALLY STIMULATED DIFFERENTIATION OF PC12 CELLS

Cell differentiation of PC12 cells was electrically induced to grow ne urites in the absence of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the electrode su rface, of which potential was modulated by a rectangular wave of poten tial. The electric stimulation induced the c-fos expression which is e ssential for cell differentiation. Non-specific calcium channel blocke r, lanthanum ion, inhibited the electrically induced differentiation, while NGF-induced differentiation was not suppressed. An L-type calciu m channel blocker, nifedipine, also inhibited the electrically induced calcium influx and c-fos expression. Moreover, a stretch-activated (S A) channel blocker, gadolinium ion, inhibited the electrically stimula ted differentiation by blocking the calcium influx, but gave no promin ent effects on the potassium ion-induced differentiation. Chelerythrin e, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, almost inhibited the c ell differentiation by the electric stimulation but not by the NGF tre atment. These results indicate that the alternative potential may stim ulate cell differentiation through a PKC cascade. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.