The effect of cell density on the expression of cell adhesive properties in a cloned rat astrocytoma (C-6)

The cell-cell adhesion characteristic of C-6 astrocytoma cells changes as a function of cell density. Cell suspensions prepared from monolayers having a density lower than 1 × 10⁵ cells/cm² show maximal affinity for plasma membranes and cells obtained from monolayers at densities greater than 1 × 10⁶ cells/cm² shows minimal affinity for plasma membranes. The adhesive component retained on plasma membranes is present at essentially equal levels in membranes prepared from cells at different density. This modulation in cell surface affinity appears to be due to cell-cell contact and appears to represent a suitable model for the study of the modulation of cell-cell adhesion as a result of cell contact.