Metabolism and neurite promoting effect of exogenous sphingosylphosphocholine in cultured murine neuroblastoma cells.

Exogenous sphingosylphosphocholine analogues and naturally occurring sphingomyelin stimulated the neurite outgrowth in cultured murine neuroblastoma cell lines, NS-20Y, Neuro2a, and N1E-115, whereas exogenous sphinganine at a non-cytotoxic concentration inhibited the neurite outgrowth in NS-20Y and Neuro2a cells. The effect of sphingosylphosphocholine on the neurite outgrowth was reversible, indicating that the extended neurites needed to be maintained by continuous stimulation. The uptake and metabolism of the exogenous [3-3H]sphingosylphosphocholine in pulse and chase experiments suggested that the radioactive ceramide and sphingomyelin, which were detected as major metabolic products, were in a precursor/product relationship. It is thus assumed that the exogenous sphingosylphosphocholine taken up by the cells is first degraded into phosphocholine and sphingosine, of which the latter is rapidly acylated to ceramide then converted to sphingomyelin by phosphocholine transfer. Metabolism of sphingosylphosphocholine through sphingomyelin synthesis in the cells may be associated with neurite outgrowth.