Vinblastine and Griseofulvin Reversibly Disrupt the Living Mitotic Spindle

Using polarized light we have studied the effects of various mitotic poisons on mitotic spindles of living Pectinaria oocytes; we have studied fixed specimens with phase and electron microscopy. Vinblastine caused attrition and eventual disappearance of spindle structure as rapidly as did colcemid,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 160; no. 3829; pp. 770 - 772
Main Authors Malawista, Stephen E., Sato, Hidemi, Bensch, Klaus G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 17.05.1968
Subjects
Annelida
Birefringence
Canals
Colchicine - pharmacology
Epithelium
Female
Germ Cells - cytology
Griseofulvin - pharmacology
Metaphase
Mitosis - drug effects
Mitotic spindle apparatus
Mucus
Neurons
Oocytes
Ovum
Polarized light
Sea water
Vinblastine - pharmacology
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Summary:Using polarized light we have studied the effects of various mitotic poisons on mitotic spindles of living Pectinaria oocytes; we have studied fixed specimens with phase and electron microscopy. Vinblastine caused attrition and eventual disappearance of spindle structure as rapidly as did colcemid, and subsequent recovery from this treatment was at least as fast as that from colcemid. Griseofulvin, however, was easily the best agent for rapid, reversible, and repeated dissolution of the spindle. Agents that arrest metaphase may act on nondividing cells by interfering with the organization of other gelated structures.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.160.3829.770