Prolonged Electrical Stimulation of Neuronal PC12 Cells Using a Microchip

PC12 cell line is widely used to study neuronal differentiation behavior. This cell line differentiates in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF), resulting in protrusions called neurites, dentrites and axons. Non-invasive electrical stimulation is known to have potential for use in the control of the activity and regeneration of neuron cells. In this study, the effects of longterm electrical stimulation on the behavior of PC12 cells and their differentiation in the presence of NGF were investigated using a microchip. Electrical stimulation was performed 2 hours a day for 2 days and all day (24 hours) and the results were compared to the condition in which no electrical stimulation was applied. The results clearly showed that the cells migrated towards the electrodes and the neurite orientation was promoted due to the electrical stimulation applied. However, the protrusion per cell decreased. The findings are thought to be useful in elucidating the effects of external electrical stimulation on neuron cell.