Effects of nerve growth factor and cAMP on expression of acetylcholine receptor in PC12 cells

The developmental change in acetylcholine-induced current (IACh) was investigated in PC12 cells cultured in the presence or absence of either nerve growth factor (NGF) or 8-Br-cAMP for 10 days. Currents were recorded in the whole-cell mode of the conventional patch-clamp technique. Morphological observations revealed that control cells do not undergo a change in morphology during culture. NGF-treated cells developed long neurites and had dense connections with other cells. 8-Br-cAMP-treated cells developed short neurites, and did not have dense connections. Control cells did not show a change in the mean density of IACh (VH = -80 mV) during the culture period. NGF-treated cells had a maximal increase in the current density of IACh at 5 days after the beginning of treatment, and did not show any further increase until 10 days. 8-Br-cAMP-treated cells had a decrease in current density during the first 6 days, but recovered to the control level after 7 days of treatment. It is concluded that maximal expression of ACh receptors occurs in the relatively early days of development, and that intracellular cAMP does not contribute greatly to their expression.