Vinblastine and Griseofulvin Reversibly Disrupt the Living Mitotic Spindle

Using polarized light we have studied the effects of various mitotic poisons on mitotic spindles of living Pectinaria oocytes; we have studied fixed specimens with phase and electron microscopy. Vinblastine caused attrition and eventual disappearance of spindle structure as rapidly as did colcemid,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 160; no. 3829; pp. 770 - 772
Main Authors:	Malawista, Stephen E., Sato, Hidemi, Bensch, Klaus G.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 17-05-1968
Subjects:	Annelida Birefringence Canals Colchicine - pharmacology Epithelium Female Germ Cells - cytology Griseofulvin - pharmacology Metaphase Mitosis - drug effects Mitotic spindle apparatus Mucus Neurons Oocytes Ovum Polarized light Sea water Vinblastine - pharmacology
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Summary:	Using polarized light we have studied the effects of various mitotic poisons on mitotic spindles of living Pectinaria oocytes; we have studied fixed specimens with phase and electron microscopy. Vinblastine caused attrition and eventual disappearance of spindle structure as rapidly as did colcemid, and subsequent recovery from this treatment was at least as fast as that from colcemid. Griseofulvin, however, was easily the best agent for rapid, reversible, and repeated dissolution of the spindle. Agents that arrest metaphase may act on nondividing cells by interfering with the organization of other gelated structures.
ISSN:	0036-8075 1095-9203
DOI:	10.1126/science.160.3829.770