The effects of cytohalasin B and dimethyl sulfoxide on the movement of mouse kidney cells. I. Effect on the outgrowth of cells

The following experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of cytochalasin B (CB) on the movement of mouse kidney epitheliocytes in primary culture. Fragments of mouse kidney were cultured in Sykes-Moore chambers with control medium (McCoy's 5a, modified), CB in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and DMSO. CB, 10 μg/ml, in 1% DMSO completely inhibited the outgrowth of cells from the kidney fragments. These effects were reversible. Unexpectedly, 1% DMSO suppressed the outgrowth of the kidney cells. A myriad of phenomenological effects of CB on mammalian cells have been reported in the recent literature. Most investigators report no effect of DMSO on the cells. These results suggest that DMSO is affecting the movement of mouse kidney cells.