The use of model systems derived from cell lines has been a valuable tool in understanding the molecules and cellular processes that govern differentiation processes (T.R. Breitman, S.E. Selonick, S.J. Collins, Induction of differentiation of the @entity1 @entity2799 cell line (HL-60) by @entity1968 , Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77 (1980) 2936-2940 [2]; N. Gomez, S. Traverse, P. Cohen, Identification of a MAP kinase in phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells, FEBS Lett. 314 (1992) 461-465 [4]). The use of such systems provides an inexpensive, quick and simple way to identify and test molecules that can be further studied in more complex in vivo experiments. Some cell lines such as embryonic stem cells can be induced to differentiate in vitro, however, the differentiation is difficult to control and most often leads to the generation of a wide variety of cell types. Cell lines derived from sources committed to a restricted cell fate provide an opportunity to examine cell growth and differentiation within a specific cell type (G.M. Keller, In vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 7 (1995) 862-869 [10]). In this article we describe a simple system for the differentiation of the @entity1 @entity521 cell line LA- @entity51041 into cholinergic neurons using @entity1968 (G. Han, B. Chang, M.J. Connor, N. Sidell, Enhanced potency of 9-cis versus @entity1968 to induce the differentiation of @entity1 @entity521 cells, Differentiation, 59 (1995) 61-69 [5]; D.P. Hill, K.R. Robertson, Characterization of the cholinergic neuronal differentiation of the @entity1 @entity521 cell line LA-N-5 after treatment with @entity1968 , Dev. Brain Res. 102 (1997) 53-67 [6]; J.A. Robson, N. Sidell, Ultrastructural features of a @entity1 @entity521 cell line treated with @entity1968 , Neuroscience 14 (1985) 1149-1162 [12]; N. Sidell, C.A. Lucas, G.W. Kreutzberg, Regulation of acetylcholinesterase activity by @entity1968 in a @entity1 @entity521 cell line, Exp. Cell Res. 155 (1984) 305-309 [14]). These cells provide a setting for the study of cholinergic neuronal differentiation and of the factors that influence that process. We also discuss procedures that can be used to study gene expression in LA-N-5 cells by immunohistochemistry and reporter gene analysis.

Differentiation of LA-N-5 XXXX cells into cholinergic neurons: methods for differentiation, immunohistochemistry and reporter gene introduction.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity2799 :: ('MESH:D015473', 'Disease') :: ['promyelocytic leukemia'] @entity521 :: ('MESH:D009447', 'Disease') :: ['neuroblastoma'] @entity51041 :: ('MESH:C012293', 'Chemical') :: ['N-5'] @entity1968 :: ('MESH:D014212', 'Chemical') :: ['retinoic acid', 'all-trans retinoic acid']
@entity521 :: (MESH:D009447,Disease) :: ['neuroblastoma']
