ND7/23

ND7/23 is a continuous hybrid cell line generated by somatic fusion of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 with rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. This hybrid origin confers a sensory neuron-like phenotype while retaining the proliferative capacity and handling convenience of an immortalized line. ND7/23 cells express neuronal markers such as βIII-tubulin, neurofilament, and synaptophysin, and can be differentiated by serum withdrawal or dibutyryl cAMP to extend neurites and upregulate neuronal properties. They possess functional voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels and respond to various neuroactive compounds, making them useful for electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and neuropharmacology.

Key advantages:

• Continuous, homogenous, and scalable source; reduces batch-to-batch variability and animal use compared with primary DRG neurons.
• Retains DRG-like sensory neuron characteristics, including excitability and nociceptive signaling pathways.
• Amenable to transfection, siRNA, CRISPR, patch-clamp, high-content imaging, and high-throughput screening.
• Can be differentiated to a more mature neuronal phenotype, enabling studies of neurite outgrowth, ion channel function, and neurotoxicity.

Applications: pain research, neurotoxicity testing, ion channel pharmacology, drug discovery, and mechanistic studies of sensory neuron signaling. ND7/23 cells are also used as hosts for expressing recombinant channels or receptors, providing a controlled background for functional assays.