The effect of pentagastrin on the directional migration of colon adenocarcinoma cells in vitro
Schallier, D.; Van der Elst, J.; De Neve, W.; Storme, G.
Anticancer Research 6(2): 335-338
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 3707070 Document Number: 273714
The centrifugal spreading of multicellular aggregates from a DMH induced colon adenocarcinoma cell line from rats was observed in vitro. Various concentrations of pentagastrin were added to the culture medium. Controls included medium alone or culture medium containing different concentrations of either NH4OH or NaOH that were needed to dissolve the pentagastrin. The migration index, the total surface area occupied by the cells after 7 days, and the cell density of the culture were measured. Using 10 micrograms/ml of pentagastrin, the migration idex and the area covered by the cells were increased (P less than 0.01) while the cell density was not. Inhibition of cell division through addition of 5 fluoro-uracil to the culture medium abolished the stimulating effect of pentagastrin although the centrifugal migration was not suppressed by the antimetabolite. These data indicate that a supraphysiological concentration of pentagastrin can stimulate the spreading of colon cancer cell aggregates in vitro by enhanced proliferation.