Immortalization of bipotential and plastic glio-neuronal precursor cells.

Permanent clonal cell lines from newborn mouse striatum have been established after transfer of the simian virus 40 large tumor oncogene by means of a retroviral vector. Some of the lines obtained displayed properties of bipotential and plastic glio-neuronal precursors. Depending on the culture conditions, these cells express either the glial fibrillary acidic protein or neurofilaments. In addition, the cells can display adrenergic, D1 and D2 dopaminergic, muscarinic, and 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 serotoninergic receptors, which are coupled either to the adenylate cyclase or to the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways. The panel of receptors for neurotransmitters exhibited by these lines closely resembles that of primary striatal neurons. Results suggest that plastic common precursors of astrocytes and neurons persist in the striatum at a late developmental stage. As these permanent cell lines constitute an unlimited source of homogenous cell material, we suggest that they should be useful for molecular and pharmacological studies on the mechanisms and regulation of signal transduction as well as the commitment, plasticity, and differentiation of neural cells.