A factor from neurons induces partial immobilization of nonclustered acetylcholine receptors on cultured muscle cells.

A factor or factors released by cultured NG108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells and added to the medium of rat myotube primary cultures was found to immobilize some of the previously mobile acetylcholine receptors in the myotube membrane. Partial receptor immobilization occurred within 3 h after the beginning of treatment with the NG108-15-conditioned medium factor and persisted for at least 24 h of continuous treatment. A similarly derived conditioned medium concentrate from the non-neuronal parent glioma cell line did not immobilize receptors, relative to untreated controls. Acetylcholine receptors were visualized by fluorescent alpha-bungarotoxin and their lateral motion was observed by the technique of fluorescence photobleaching recovery.