Abstract
Differentiation of teratocarcinoma cells in culture allows to study certain aspects of the early embryogenesis. The adenylate cyclase system of cultured F9 cells is specifically stimulated by calcitonin. Differentiation into endodermal cells by treatment with retinoic acid is followed by a loss of calcitonin responsiveness and the appearance of parathyroid hormone stimulation of the cyclase system. In addition radioimmunological and biological active forms of calcitonin are secreted by F9 cells in the culture medium. Along with differentiation with retinoic acid a progressive decrease of calcitonin secretion is observed : after 4 days of treatment no calcitonin is any longer detectable. But at this stage of differentiation a parathyroid hormone-like substance is radio-immunologically and biologically detectable. These specific changes in hormonal secretion and receptivity can be used as markers of differentiation. These results also suggest a possible role for Calcitonin and Parathyroid hormone-like activities during the initial steps of embryogenesis.
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Evain, D., Binet, E. Secretion of calcitonin and parathyroid hormone by embryonal carcinoma cells: variations with differentiation. Pediatr Res 15, 1552 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198112000-00102
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198112000-00102