The Effect of Colchicine and Cytochalasin B on the Release of Taurine from the Chick Retina

Abstract: The effect of colchicine (0.5 mM) and of cytochalasin B (10⁻⁴ M) on the release of [³⁵S]taurine from the isolated chick retina, upon stimulation by 68.5 mM-KCl, 10⁻⁵ M-veratridine and 10 mM-glutamate, was studied. Cytochalasin and colchicine effects on taurine release were compared with those on K⁺-stimulated release of [³H]dopamine and [³H]GABA. Colchicine caused a marked decrease of the [³⁵S]taurine release evoked by the three stimulatory agents; it also decreased [³H]dopamine release without affecting that of [³H]GABA. Cytochalasin B significantly decreased the efflux of [³⁵S]taurine stimulated by glutamate or veratridine without altering that evoked by 68.5 mM-KCl. Cytochalasin practically suppressed the [³H]dopamine-stimulated release and slightly decreased that of [³H]GABA. This drug produced a high increase in the spontaneous release of labeled GABA and taurine. These results suggest that the release of taurine and GABA from the chick retina probably occurs through different mechanisms. It is suggested that taurine release may be related to a process involving contractile proteins.     

细胞松弛素B对多头绒泡菌有丝分裂的影响

将细胞松弛素Ｂ（Ｃｙｔｏｃｈａｌａｓｉｎ Ｂ,ＣＢ）注入同步化的多头绒泡菌原质团,在光镜和电镜下跟踪观察有有丝分裂进程,发现多头绒泡菌进入有丝分裂的时间推迟,与未经ＣＢ处理的样品相比,在Ｓ期注入ＣＢ的样品进入有丝分裂的时间推迟３５ｍｉｎ,在Ｇ２早期注入ＣＢ的样品则推迟２０ｍｉｎ;在Ｇ２中期注入的推迟４５ｍｉｎ;在Ｇ２晚期注入的推迟６０ｍｉｎ,说明抑制肌动蛋白的功能则使有丝分裂受到明显影响。ＣＢ处理     

Effects of Cytochalasin B on Muscle Cells in Tissue Culture

THE antibiotic cytochalasin B induces the formation of binucleated and multinucleated cells by preventing cytokinesis¹ and the cleavage furrow filaments in sea urchin eggs, 50-100 Å in diameter, disappear in the presence of this compound². It has a similar effect on the fine filaments found in embryonic pancreatic cells³ and inhibits cell migration¹. Many kinds of cells displaying amoeboid movements have been reported to have 50-100 Å filaments^4–6. Ishikawa et al. have demonstrated that 60–80 Å filaments in the cortex of various tissue cells bind heavy-meromyosin in a manner identical to that of actin filaments, which are also 60–80 Å in diameter⁷. Many investigators have referred to these thin filaments as actin or actin-like and assumed them to be responsible for, or associated with, cellular movements^8,9, contraction^10,11 and cytokinesis^12,13.     

In Vitro Orientation of Fibroblasts and Myoblasts on Aligned Collagen Film

A collagen film in which the collagen fibers were aligned was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Cell orientation on this film was studied in vitro using human fibroblasts and chick embryo myoblasts. Ninety-four percent of innoculated fibroblasts were aligned along the direction of the collagen fiber. The cell orientation was disturbed when cytochalasin B or colchicine was added to the culture medium. The myoblasts showed a similar alignment along the direction of collagen fiber. The scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that none of the cytoplasmic extensions had consistent relationships to the direction of collagen fiber. Myoblast fusion was accelerated on the aligned membrane as compared to a randomly oriented film, suggesting some role of contact guidance in muscle cell differentiation.     

Cytochemical Localization of Calcium in Prefusion Myoblasts from the Chick Embryo Myotome

Myoblast fusion is a Ca²⁺-dependent process. The aim of this report was to study the localization of Ca²⁺ in prefusion myoblasts from the brachial somites of chick embryos (51–108h of incubation), using the potassium pyroantimonate cytochemical method. When observed under a transmission electron microscope, electron-dense precipitates of Ca²⁺-antimonate were found in the basement membrane of the myotome, which separates the myotome from the adjacent mesenchyma. Within myoblasts, triads and sarcoplasmic reticulum associated with the first newly formed sarcomeres were observed, but a T-tubule network was not found. Moreover, Ca²⁺-antimonate precipitates were not observed in structures resembling T-tubules or sarcoplasmic reticulum. The results suggest that sarcomerogenesis and sarcoplasmic reticulum development occur simultaneously and that prefusion myoblasts have neither a T-tubule network nor Ca²⁺ deposits on sarcoplasmic reticulum. Small Ca²⁺ pools were found in the myoblast nuclei, cytoplasmic vesicles and mitochondrias. Ca²⁺-antimonate precipitates periodically distributed at the cell periphery, close to the cell membrane, were observed. These precipitates could represent internal Ca²⁺ stores located in the peripheral couplings and it is proposed that these pools of Ca²⁺ could be mobilized before fusion, leading to the increase in free intracellular Ca²⁺ that precedes myoblast fusion.     

Subcellular Effects of Cytochalasin B and Dimethylsulfoxide on Paramecium aurelia*

SYNOPSIS. Paramecium aurelia syngen 4, stock 57 (sensitive) cultivated in Cerophyl infusion were exposed to cytochalasin B CB and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), the solvent for CB, to distinguish between the effects of these agents on a cellular system. DMSO significantly inhibited survival, fission rate, [³H]leucine incorporation, and cell size. CB-treated cells generally had slower division and poorer survival rates than cells exposed to the equivalent DMSO concentration, although the [3H]leucine incorporation was generally greater at the lower CB concentrations than for DMSO alone. As seen by electron microscopy and a new grycerination technic for observing polysomes, DMSO caused nuclear (nucleolar, chromatin) abnormalities as well as membrane degradation and polysomal breakdown; CB caused the formation of aberrant membrane structures and ribosomal tetramers, crystals, and tubes.     

Cytochalasin B and water transport

Summary A morpho-functional study of the effects of cytochalasin B (CB) on Na and water transport was made in amphibian epithelia. The functional studies confirmed the dissociation of the natriferic and hydrosmotic effects of vasopressin in toad urinary bladders exposed to CB and showed in addition that the block of the hydrosmotic effect was reversible and could still be induced in epithelia maximally stimulated with the hormone. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that CB, per se, did not alter the apical surface of the bladders. An almost total loss of microvilli of granular cells was seen, however, if CB was associated with vasopressin and an osmotic gradient. The results suggest two points: a) the block of the hydrosmotic flow induced by CB is due to factors beyond the apical membrane; b) microfilaments may be important mechanochemical transducers in the chain of events leading to the hydrosmotic effect of vasopressin.Supported by the grants Nos 3.1300.73 and 3.043-0.76 of the Swiss National Science FoundationThe authors are grateful to Miss C. Brücher, SEM operator of the Department of Physics, Ciba-Geigy, for skillful collaboration, to Mr. R. Mira for the illustrations and to Mrs. A. Cergneux for secretarial assistance     

细胞松驰素B促微丝解聚对DNA合成的作用

利用微丝（ｍｉｃｒｏｆｉｌａｍｅｎｔ,ＭＦ）解聚药物细胞松驰素Ｂ（ｃｙｔｏｃｈａｌａｓｉｎＢ,ＣＢ）处理Ｇ_０期小鼠Ｃ_３Ｈ_（１０）Ｔ_（１／２）成纤维细胞,对Ｇ_０至Ｓ期ＤＮＡ合成,胸腺嘧啶核苷激酶（ｔｈｙｍｉｄｉｎｅｋｉｎａｓｅ,ＴＫ）活性、ＴＫ基因表达、钙调素（ｃａｌｍｏｄｕｌｉｎ,ＣａＭ）水平和一些细胞周期早期基因的表达进行了观察,Ｇ_０期细胞经３ｍｇ／ＬＣＢ处理２ｈ,促ＭＦ解聚增强了血清对Ｓ期细胞ＴＫ活性、ＴＫ基因表达和ＤＮＡ合成的刺激作用,并促进细胞提前进入Ｓ期．血清刺激Ｇ_０期细胞进入晚Ｇ_１期和Ｓ期时,ＣａＭ水平明显升高,而ＣＢ预处理则使ＣａＭ含量进一步增加,特别是ＣＢ处理促使Ｓ期ＣａＭ增加向核内转移．ＣＢ处理明显增强血清对ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因表达的刺激作用,而ＰＫＣ抑制剂Ｈ_７则抑制ＣＢ处理对这些基因转录的刺激作用,说明ＣＢ使Ｇ_０期细胞ＭＦ解聚刺激ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ的转录活性与ＰＫＣ的作用有关．结果表明Ｇ_０至Ｓ期早期ＭＦ的重组可促进细胞进入Ｓ期,增强ＤＮＡ合成．     

Induction of Creatine Phosphokinase in Cultures of Chick Skeletal Myoblasts without Concomitant Cell Fusion

The induction of the enzyme creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in cultures of chick breast muscle myoblasts has been distinguished from the process of fusion of myoblasts resulting in the formation of multinucleated myotubes. Primary cultures of myoblasts grown in the presence of phospholipase C, BUdR or EGTA, all of which prevent cell fusion, contain amounts of CPK similar to the level in untreated cultures. Both the brain and muscle isozymes are present in all cultures. We conclude that the induction of CPK is not dependent upon the formation of multinucleated myotubes.     

Collagen Formation by Fibroblasts of the Chick Embryo Dermis

This investigation has sought to determine the relation between collagen fiber and fibroblast during fibrogenesis. Toward this end the surfaces of chick fibroblasts grown under in vitro conditions have been examined with the electron microscope after fixation in OsO₄. Supplementary information has been obtained from thin sections of fibroblasts fixed in situ during phases of fiber production. The evidence provided by these studies and by various conditions of the experiments indicates that the unit fibrils of collagen form in close association with the cell surface. They were never observed within the cell. When these unit fibrils form in bundles it appears as though templates of some nature, possibly coinciding with stress fibers within the cell cortex, influence the polymerization of the fibrils out of material available at the cell surface. From here the fibrils and bundles of them are shed into the intercellular spaces and there grow to limited diameters by accretion of materials from the general milieu.     

Cytochalasin B and Release of Growth Hormone

MICROTUBULES are believed to be involved in emiocytosis, in which secretory granules migrate and fuse with the cell membrane, thereby liberating the granule contents into the extracellular space. Important evidence for this is that the release of insulin from pancreatic islets of Langerhans^1,2, histamine from mast cells³ and from leucocytes⁴ and catecholamines from the adrenal medulla⁵ is inhibited by colchicine, which, at lower concentrations, disrupts microtubular systems⁶. Although the function of microtubules in the secretory process is far from clear, it has been postulated that they are part of a contractile system which could move granules to the cell surface, or could be involved in the final release mechanism⁵. If contractile proteins do play a fundamental part in secretion in the four systems investigated, they would also be expected to be involved in other secretory systems. However, stimulation of growth hormone release in vitro is inhibited by colchicine only at the high concentration of 5 mM, at which concentration basal release is doubled by the drug⁷. This relative insensitivity to colchicine could be reconciled with an involvement of contractile proteins in secretion if microfilaments, rather than microtubules, were important in the release of growth hormone. Microfilaments are not affected by treatment with colchicine⁸ but may be disrupted by cytochalasin B⁹ and the effect of this drug on in vitro secretion of ox growth hormone in response to Ba²⁺, high extracellular K⁺ and prostaglandin E₂ has therefore been tested.     

Plaquing of Toxoplasma gondii in Secondary Cultures of Chick Embryo Fibroblasts

A tissue culture system that employed chick embryo fibroblasts was described for plaquing of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. High plaquing efficiency and reproducibility were accomplished by the use of secondary rather than primary cultures and the use of toxoplasma obtained from disrupted peritoneal cells of mice infected 48 hr earlier. The monolayers were cultured in a special medium which maintained the fibroblasts until the maximal number of plaques was produced. Optimal plaque formation was obtained in 5 days, and the plaques were easily counted macroscopically.     

细胞松弛素B对蚕豆气孔运动的影响

以蚕豆叶片下表皮条为材料,研究了微丝在气孔运动中的作用。利用肌动蛋白纤丝专一性抑制剂──细胞松弛素Ｂ（ＣＢ）预处理后,再用诱导气孔运动的因子处理表皮条,在显微镜下观测气孔孔径的变化。结果显示,用ＣＢ处理开放或关闭状态气孔,其开度均不发生变化;ＣＢ处理使微丝解聚,气孔运动被抑制;且ＣＢ处理后气孔的运动是可以恢复的。实验进一步表明,开放气孔经１０ｍｇ／Ｌ的ＣＢ预处理后,ＡＢＡ、Ｃａ２＋及暗诱导气孔关闭的作用均不同程度地受到抑制,推测微丝可能参与ＡＢＡ、Ｃａ２＋及暗诱导的气孔关闭过程;关闭气孔经１０ｍｇ／Ｌ的ＣＢ预处理后,Ｋ＋和（或）光诱导气孔开放的作用受到抑制,推测微丝可能参与光及Ｋ＋诱导的气孔开放过程。     

Tunicamycin Inhibits Biosynthesis of Acid Mucopolysaccharides in Cultures of Chick Embryo Fibroblasts

Enterobacter cloacae KY 3074 grown in a medium containing xanthine, hypoxanthine, guanine, or their nucleosides and nucleotides produced xanthine oxidase. The purified enzyme preparation showed a major protein band and a few minor bands in acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular oxygen was the most effective electron acceptor. Ferricyanide and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol also served as electron acceptors, but NAD and NADP did not. Xanthine and hypoxanthine were good substrates, and guanine was also an effective substrate. The activity was inhibited by Ag²⁺, Cu²⁺, PCMB, and ascorbate. The spectrum of the Enterobacter enzyme resembled that of some known xanthine oxidizing enzymes, and this suggests a similarity in the prosthetic groups of these enzymes. The molecular weight of the native enzyme and subunit was 128,000 and 69,000, respectively.     

Effect of Sendai Virus Infection on Lipid Metabolism in Chick Embryo Fibroblasts

Lipid metabolism in the "abortive" system, Sendai virus-infected primary chick embryo fibroblasts, was examined by using (32)P-orthophosphate, (14)C-glucose, and (14)C-glycerol as precursors. Incorporation of radioactivity from (32)P-orthophosphate and (14)C-glucose into lipid was increased in infected cells. Synthesis of all individual phospholipids was about equally stimulated. There was also evidence for increased lipid synthesis in more productively infected monkey kidney cells. Incorporation of (14)C-glycerol when at a high level in the medium was also increased. However, when this precursor was supplied in minute quantities of high specific activity, incorporation was inhibited. Even though incorporation of radioactivity from (14)C-glucose was stimulated during long labeling periods, the uptake of this precursor during short pulses was inhibited in infected cells. The phenomenon of increased labeling of triglyceride in infected chick cells under certain conditions is discussed, in conjunction with the other effects, in terms of related changes in other virus-infected systems.     

Cytochalasin B and the structure of actin gels

We analyzed the structure of gels formed when macrophage actin-binding protein crosslinks skeletal muscle actin polymers and the effect of the fungal metabolite cytochalasin B on this structure. Measurement of the actin filament length distribution permitted calculation of the critical concentration of crosslinker theoretically required for gelation of actin polymer networks. The experimentally determined critical concentration of actin-binding protein agreed sufficiently with the theoretical to conclude that F-actin-actin-binding protein gels are networks composed of isotropically oriented filaments crosslinked at intervals. The effects of cytochalasin B on these actin networks fits this model. Cytochalasin B (1) bound to F-actin (but not to actin-binding protein), (2) decreased the length of actin filaments without increasing the quantity of monomeric actin, (3) decreased the rigidity of actin networks both in the presence and absence of crosslinking proteins and (4) increased the critical concentration of actin-binding protein required for incipient gelation by a magnitude predicted from network theory if filaments were divided and shortened by the extents observed. The effects of cytochalasin B on gelation were highly dependent on actin concentration and were inhibited by the actin-stabilizing agent phalloidin. Therefore, cytochalasin B diminishes actin gel structure by severing actin filaments at limited sites. The demonstration of gel-sol transformations in actin networks caused by limited actin filament cleavage suggests a new mechanism for the control of cytoplasmic structure.     

细胞松弛素B和鬼笔环肽对梨花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响

以砂梨(Pyrus pyrifoliaNakai)品种今村秋(Imamuraaki)和丰水(Hosui)为材料,分别用光学显微镜和荧光显微镜观察了离体和半活体条件下微丝骨架解聚剂细胞松弛素B(cytochalasin B,CB)和稳定剂鬼笔环肽(phalloidin)对梨花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响.结果表明:(1)低浓度(10μg/mL)鬼笔环肽能促进花粉萌发和花粉管生长,但高浓度对花粉萌发和花粉管的生长具有抑制作用;CB抑制花粉萌发和花粉管生长,且抑制效应随其浓度的增加而增强.(2)鬼笔环肽处理柱头后进行自花授粉,可明显促进自花花粉萌发和花粉管的生长,而CB处理柱头后异花授粉则抑制异花花粉萌发及其花粉管生长.可见,微丝骨架参与了梨花粉萌发和花粉管生长过程,并参与了梨自交不亲和反应的调节.     

Cytochalasin stimulates phosphoinositide metabolism in murine B lymphocytes

The ability of cytochalasin to alter phosphoinositide metabolism was evaluated in naive, murine splenic B lymphocytes. The generation of total inositol phosphates was stimulated by treatment with cytochalasin D, as was the generation of inositol trisphosphate. The cytochalasin-induced increase in inositol phosphates appeared to depend on interaction with actin, and it was inhibited by phorbol esters. Inositol phosphate production was not stimulated in splenic T lymphocytes. The results suggest that the previously observed increase in intracellular calcium produced by cytochalasin is part of a more generalized signaling event that includes phosphoinositide turnover, and, further, raise the possibility of a functional association between actin and phospholipase C.