Neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by gangliosides.

Exogenous administration of gangliosides induced neuronal differentiation with prominent neuritogenesis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Neuritogenesis was characterized by ruffling of the cell membrane, the development of lamellipodia and filopodia, and the subsequent elongation and branching of the neurites ultrastructurally. Both axons and neurites were identified. Increased numbers of cell organelles in the neurites and cell bodies were noted. Nonsynaptic contacts and gap junctions formed between neurites or between each neurite and cell body. These findings could be implicated in histopathologic changes from neuroblastoma to ganglioneuroblastoma.