Modification of response of mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture by serum type.

The effect of various types of serum on morphological and biochemical changes in mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone NBP2) in culture was studied. The extent of spontaneous morphological differentiation varied markedly depending upon the type of serum and was maximal in agammaglobulin calf serum (CS). The extent of morphological differentiation after treatment of cells with cyclic AMP-stimulating agents was also dependent upon serum type and was least pronounced in fetal calf serum. The doubling time and extent of clumping varied with the type of serum. The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in NB cells was dependent upon serum type and it was highest in newborn CS and agammaglobulin CS. Although elevation of intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in NBP2 clone invariably stimulates neurite formation and TH activity, these functions were increased in certain sera without a significant increase in the cellular cyclic AMP levels. The present study shows that neurite formation, growth rate and TH activity are regulated by more than one mode, one of which is mediated by cyclic AMP. The above changes are independently regulated in the sense that the expression of one can be increased in the absence of others.