Regulation of specific functions of glial cells in somatic hybrids. II. Control of inducibility of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8) is induced when glial cells are exposed to hydrocortisone in vitro. In contrast, the enzyme activity in fibroblasts is not affected by the steroid. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms controlling inducibility, hybrids between glial cells and fibroblasts were studied. It was found that the activity of the enzyme does not increase when the hybrids are exposed to hydrocortisone. It was also shown that inducibility and the noninduced activity of enzyme are controlled independently. Comparisons of S-100 and glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the hybrids suggest that all the specialized functions characteristics of glial cells are not coordinately controlled.