Clonal hybrid cell lines expressing cholinergic and adrenergic properties.

Abstract

Different cholinergic cell lines were fused with an adrenergic neuroblastoma cell line (N115-BU-8). Its fusion with a cholinergic neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid produced a "hybrid-hybrid" line containing cholinergic and adrenergic enzyme activities. Both activities were also present in subclones of this line. The presence of catecholamines in single cells was confirmed by microspectrofluorimetry. These results are discussed with respect to the possibility of a simultaneous synthesis of noradrenaline and acetylcholine in single cells. The cholinergic and adrenergic enzyme activities are influenced by cell density, by dexamethasone, and by conditioned medium.