Differentiation of mouse neuroblastoma cells under increased oxygen tension.

After exposure to increased oxygen tension for 3 days, cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells were found to undergo morphological differentiation and to significantly increase their ecto-acetylcholinesterase activity. Differentiation could not be blocked by KCN or lipid-soluble antioxidants, indicating that neither an increased respiration, nor an increased oxidation of membrane lipids was responsible for the effect.