Induced differentiation of a neuroblastoma

Neurite formation in a cloned tissue culture line of mouse neuroblastoma C1300 can be rapidly induced by plating cells in serum-free or conditioned media. This induced differentiation, defined here in terms of neurite formation and a change in macromolecular synthesis, is not initiated by the inhibition of cell division, but requires a strong interaction between the cell and the surface of the culture dish. This interaction is inhibited by several proteins and is enhanced by one or more dialyzable cell metabolites. Neurite formation is reversible, and microtubule formation in neurites is dependent on protein synthesis.