Aluminum salts induce the accumulation of neurofilaments in perikarya of NB2a/dl neuroblastoma.

Abstract

NB2a/dl neuroblastoma cells were exposed to aluminum chloride or aluminum lactate (0.1-1 mM) for 3 and 6 days. Additional cultures were exposed to aluminum salts as the cells were stimulated to elaborate axonal neurites by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. By phase-contrast microscopy, aluminum salts had no effect on the morphology of undifferentiated (NB2a(-] or differentiated (NB2a(+] cells, or on neuritic elaboration and maintenance. Silver straining by the Bielschowsky method, however, demonstrated argyrophilic accumulations in perikarya of many NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cells treated with aluminum salts. At the ultrastructural level, whorls of intermediate filaments were the most prominent abnormalities in neuronal perikarya. Although phosphorylated high-molecular weight neurofilament subunits (NF-H) are normally detected by immunocytochemical analyses only within axonal neurites of NB2a/dl cells, aluminum salt treatment caused the detection of phosphorylated epitopes of NF-H within perikaryal of NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cytoskeletons, suggesting that the argyrophilic filamentous accumulations are composed at least partly of phosphorylated NF-H.

• Authors: T B Shea, J F Clarke, T R Wheelock, P A Paskevich, R A Nixon
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 492 Issue 1-2 Pg. 53-64 (Jul 17 1989) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2752311 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Aluminum Compounds
• Chlorides
• Lactates
• Lactic Acid
• Aluminum Chloride
• Aluminum

Topics

• Aluminum (pharmacology)
• Aluminum Chloride
• Aluminum Compounds
• Animals
• Cell Line
• Chlorides (pharmacology)
• Cytoskeleton (metabolism)
• Intermediate Filaments (drug effects, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Lactates (pharmacology)
• Lactic Acid
• Mice
• Neuroblastoma
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects, metabolism, ultrastructure)