Effect of Hydrostatic Pressure on PC12 Cell Line

Purpose: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hydrostatic pressure on cell viability, apoptosis induction, morphology and cell-substrate interactions of PC12 cells. Materials and Methods: PC12 as a neuronal cell line maintained in RPMI 1640 culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. PC12 cells were subjected to hydrostatic pressure. Experimental pressure condition was 100mmHg set above atmospheric pressure for 2 h. Controls were treated identically except for the application of pressure. Dye exclusion was used for viability assay, TUNEL staining was used for apoptosis detection. Cell area was assessed as morphometry and then cell adhesion, extension and migration were investigated. Results: Hydrostatic pressure had not changed viability of cells. It induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. In addition, hydrostatic pressure reduced cell area, adhesion, extension and migration ability of these cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hydrostatic pressure may induce apoptosis in PC12 cells as a result of inappropriate cell to substrate adhesion. Thus it is suggest that occurring apoptosis in these cells be an anoikis cell death induced by loss of attachment to the substrate.