Physiological and morphological studies of rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) chemically fused and grown in culture.

Cell fusion induced by polyethylene glycol has been used to produce in culture giant multinucleate PC12 cells (up to 300 micron in diameter compared to 10-20 micron for unfused cells). Fused cells, like their unfused counterparts, were found to express various neuronal properties. They contained catecholamines. In the presence of nerve growth factor they extended long processes and expressed Na+, Ca2+, and K+ conductances generally associated with excitable cells. In the absence of nerve growth factor these cells neither grew long processes nor generated Na+-spikes. Other neuronal properties were also observed.