Differentiation of PC12 cells expressing estrogen receptor alpha: a new bioassay for endocrine-disrupting chemicals evaluation.

•PC12 estrogen receptor positive cell differentiation evidences a new selectivity toward estrogenic compounds.•The analysis of neuritogenesis can be used to study xeno-estrogens in a neuronal context.•We report the ER-dependent mechanisms of xeno-estrogens in the PC12 cell line.•The PC12 cell line is a new model for screening studies of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.