MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDY IN BRAIN TRANSPLANTATION OF NEURAL TISSUE

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Neuronal cells establishing from cell lines can offer a well-characterized source of cells for transplantation to the brain that is an alternative to fetal neurons. The infection of the PC 12 cell line with a retrovirus containing ras-oncogene leads to their neuronal differentiation without the need of nerve growth factor (NGF). We find that neoplastic, naive PC12 cells grafted to the striatum of normal adult rats cause the transient formation of large hemorrhagic cavities and do not survive. After differentiation by infection with Kirsten-ras murine sarcoma virus, and transplantation to the opposite striatum of the same brain, PC12 cells survive for at least 8 weeks and emit neurites. These neuron-like cells and their neurites retain tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyl transferase, as detected immunohistochemically. Thus, ras-primed PC12 cells may serve as a continuous source for both cholinergic and dopaminergic transmitters, in vivo, without the need of exogenous NGF.In addition to the PC 12 cell lines, we also find that rat amniotic epithelial cells can be differentiated to neuronal cells, thus these cells also may be useful for neuronal transplantation as a non-neoplastic candidate.