The effect of hyper- and hypothermia on induced telomeric chromosome fusion]

After administration of colcemid and 5-BrdU in the cell culture, the cells pass through the first interphase to delay in mitosis. Then the cells overcome the colcemid blockade, and polykaryocytes with micronuclei are formed. The second interphase in followed by the second mitosis, during which dicentric chromosomes are observed. These dicentrics are the result of telomeric chromosome fusion. The action of hyperthermia (40 degrees C) during the whole period of colcemid and 5-BrdU treatment or that of the hyperthermia (40 degrees C) only during the first 17 hours (the first interphase and the first mitosis) lead to the increased frequency of dicentrics. Under condition of hypothermia (34 degrees C) the frequency of dicentric formation decreases. Changes in cultivation temperature during the latest 25 hr of colcemid and 5-BrdU action (the second interphase and the second mitosis) exert no influence on the dicentric formation frequency. Because there are no dicentrics in cells during the metaphase of the first mitosis, it is supposed that the temperature--sensitive period may be the latest steps of colcemid blockade, i.e. the period of formation of micronuclei.