Alteration of cellular adhesion by nerve growth factor.

Nerve growth factor increases the initial rates of cell-substratum and cell-cell adhesion of sympathetic nerve cell clone PC12. It also stimulates adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation in the cells, and exogenous adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate increases cell-substratum adhesion. NGH-stimulated adhesion is energy dependent and cold-sensitive and does not require de novo protein synthesis. It is probably mediated by an effect of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on the plasma membrane. Stimulation of cellular adhesion may be the first step in NGF-initiated neurite outgrowth by sympathetic nerve cells.