Electron microscopical investigations on the glycocalyx of cultivated cells after incubation with extracts from rapidly growing normal and tumour tissues
Mangakis, N.; Von Mickwitz, C.U.
Pathologia Europaea 10(2): 105-114
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2967 PMID: 1237858 Document Number: 85620
EM investigations by the ruthenium red method on Huggin tumor cells cultivated in vitro resulted in a different thickness of the glycocalyx depending on the fixation of the cells in monolayer or, after mechanical detachment, in suspension. Cells fixed in suspension display a thicker glycocalyx, which is supposed to be due to a contraction of the cells before fixation. Tissue extracts from rapidly growing tissues (mammary gland of pregnant cows, tumor tissue) cause a significant reduction of the glycocalyx in transformed hamster fibroblasts and Huggin tumor cells after an 18 h period of action. These findings are in accordance with previous findings on the glycolytic effect of tissue extracts on sections of cartilaginous tissue. Whether the action of the tissue extracts on the glycocalyx is due to its detachment or inhibition of its renewal was discussed.