Expression of Neurofilament Antigens by Normal and Neoplastic Human Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

ADRENAL chromaffin cells belong to a diverse population of cells with both neuronal and endocrine properties, termed "neuroendocrine cells."1 2 3 4 Chromaffin and ganglion cells of the adrenal medulla differentiate from neural-crest precursors along divergent pathways, but adrenal chromaffin cells retain the ability to express neuronal properties.4 For example, cultured rat and human adrenal chromaffin cells, as well as their assumed neoplastic counterparts, pheochromocytoma cells, exhibit phenotypic properties of neurons when grown in the presence of nerve growth factor.4 5 6 Adrenal chromaffin cells in situ cannot be manipulated in the same manner to determine whether they can be induced to express neuronal properties, . . .