Control of nerve cell differentiation with X-ray microbeams

Abstract

The PC12 cell is a cell line from rat pheochromocytoma which alters in morphology to neuron-like cells with neurite extensions in response to nerve growth factor (NGF). Therefore, the PC12 cell is considered a useful model to study neuronal cell differentiation at the cellular level. Some reports indicate that the cell differentiation can be induced with conventional γ-ray irradiations. Radiation effects in PC12 cells have been interested for studies of the mechanism of neuron differentiation.
We have investigated the radiation-induced neuronal differentiation and neurite extension of the single PC12 cell with X-ray microbeams of 10 μm in diameter. The X-ray microbeam system was composed of micro focus X-ray tube and glass capillary. Targeted PC12 cells were irradiated at the dose rate of 0.05 Gy/s and the control of neuron cell differentiation have been investigated.