Changes in microtubules and microfilaments due to a combined effect of ultrasound and cytostatics in HeLa cells
Skorpíková, J.; Dolníková, M.; Hrazdira, I.; Janisch, R.
Folia Biologica 47(4): 143-147
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5500 PMID: 11508858 Document Number: 538462
Treatment of HeLa cells with low intensity ultrasound and two cytostatic drugs, cycloplatin and methotrexate, resulted in a partial disassembly of microtubules and microfilaments. This disassembly was due to depolymerization and subsequent erroneous repolymeration of essential cytoskeletal proteins, resulting in formation of unusual arrangements, mainly small, granule-like structures. The combined action of ultrasound and cytostatics had a synergistic effect dependent on both the concentration of the drug and the time of sonication. The demonstrated changes in the cytoskeleton are considered to be non-specific to ultrasound treatment, reflecting only an altered vital state of the treated cells.