PC-12

PC-12 cells are a cell line derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla. These cells are of embryonic origin, grow adherently and resemble a mixture of neuroblastic and eosinophilic cells. PC-12 cells are catecholamine cells that synthesize, store and release norepinephrine and dopamine. They have a diameter of approximately 10-12 microns and are small, irregularly shaped cells. The PC12 cell line is a classical neuronal cell model due to its ability to acquire sympathetic neuron features when dealing with nerve growth factor (NGF).

Studies on dopamine regulation have shown that PC12 cells synthesize, release, and reuptake dopamine and have been extensively characterized for neurosecretion and the presence of ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. Moreover, the relative proportion of various subtypes of Ca channels changes during differentiation. The PC12 cell line is an established neuronal cell model that is particularly useful in studying cellular responses to nerve growth factors (NGF) and how these lead to the expression of differentiation-specific proteins and differentiation. When cultured in NGF, PC12 cells differentiate into sympathetic ganglion neurons morphologically and functionally. The differentiation results from the reversible induction of a neuronal phenotype by NGF. Collagen coating has been shown to be favourable to achieving neuronal characteristics in terms of length and density of neurites by NGF treatment.

PC12 cells are tumorigenic and were derived from male New England Deaconess Hospital strain rats. The PC-12 cell line has 40 chromosomes, 38 autosomes, plus xY. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is expressed in PC12 cells, and exposure to NGF is one crucial regulator of cell differentiation.

In conclusion, PC12 cells are a versatile and widely used model system in neurobiology due to their ability to acquire sympathetic neuron features when dealing with nerve growth factor (NGF). These cells have been extensively characterized for neurosecretion, ion channels, and neurotransmitter receptors. Their extreme versatility for pharmacological testing and use as an established model for studying the proliferation and differentiation of neuronal cells make them a valuable tool in neurobiology research.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.