Differentiation of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells by sodium butyrate

PC12 pheochromocytoma cells cease dividing and show increased cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in response to treatment with sodium butyrate. These changes are accompanied by the rapid appearance of neuron-specific enolase, an APUD cell marker. However, neurofilament proteins, markers for neuronal differentiation, are not induced. These results suggest that sodium butyrate induces differentiation in the PC12 cell line, perhaps along the chromaffin cell pathway.