Morphology and proliferation of B16 melanoma cells in the presence of lanthanoid and Al3+ ions

The effects of trivalent metal ions such as lanthanoid (La , Ce, Nd , Sm , Gd , Er , Yb , Lu ) and Al ions on the morphological change and proliferation of B16 melanoma cells in culture are discussed. These metal ions induced morphological transformations and decreased growth rates at doses of 1 mM. B16 melanoma cells treated with La , Ce , Nd , Sm , and Gd showed polyhedrical spreading. Elongation of axones was dependent on the metal ions. B16 melanoma cells treated with Er , Yb , Lu , and Al showed a long slender shape. Growth rates of melanoma cells in the presence of 1 mM of metal ions (La , Ce , Nd , Sm , Gd , Yb , Al ) were significantly lower than that of control cells. Measurements of cell cycle indicated that the metal ions arrested the transitions from G /G to S state. © Rapid Science 1998