Abstract
Summary
The effects of DEX (1 and 10 μM) and BCNU (1 and 10 μM), alone and in combination, on the ultrastructure of rat glioma (strain C6) cells were investigated during the growth-inhibitory responses produced by these antitumor agents. Volume fractions of cellular structures were determined by morphometric analysis employing stereologic techniques. Relative to controls (100%), mitochondrial volumes increased 129-166% in C6 cells exposed to DEX for 1 day. Volumes of granular endoplasmic reticulum increased 189-245% in cells exposed to DEX for 2 days or BCNU for 1 day. When C6 cells pretreated with DEX for 1 day were exposed to BCNU for an additional day, granular endoplasmic reticulum volumes increased 267-300%.
These results suggest that the antitumor agents may interfere with common components of those mechanisms that regulate mitosis and the ultrastructure of mitochondria and granular endoplasmic reticulum in C6 cells.
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