Nerve growth factor stimulates rapid metabolic responses in pc12 cells. Pitchford, Simon, Karen De Moor, and Bruce S. Glaeser. Molecular Devices Corporation, Sunnyvale, California 94089
APStracts 2:0014C, 1995.
Research into the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) has involved study of either the signal transduction process or the morphological result of growth factor treatment (cell proliferation and/or differentiation). The Cytosensor_ Microphysiometer, a silicon-based biosensor system which allows the continuous and real-time monitoring of extracellular acidification rate changes of cells, was used to study the response of PC12 cells to NGF. Stimulation resulted in a rapid increase in the acidification rate of cells in a concentration-dependent fashion (0.1-200ng/ml NGF ; EC50 value of 153 +/- 54pM). Inhibition of the NGF receptor-linked protein tyrosine kinase by either genistein or K252a attenuated the acidification rate response to NGF. In addition, the acidification response to NGF could be modified by inhibiting sodium/hydrogen exchange and, separately, glycolysis. This implicates these processes in the metabolic response of PC12 cells to NGF stimulation.

Received 22 July 1994; accepted in final form 27 October 1994
APS Manuscript Number C0422-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1994 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 February 1995.