Abstract
The present article deals with some cytological investigations on the effects of PCMB, BAL, alone or in combination, Isomytal, sodium azide and Tween 20 upon HeLa cells.
The application of PCMB or BAL induced in HeLa cells prompt and severe cellular damage, similar in pattern in both agents. Characteristic damages here induced were represented by stickiness, agglutination and irregular scattering of chromosomes at metaphase and anaphase-bridge formation. The action of both PCMB and BAL on interphase cells were rather slow, showing remarkable vacuolation of the cytoplasm and the appearance of granules stained red with MGG in the nucleus. They underwent pycnotic degeneration.
It was supposed that the cellular damage caused by PCMB would be attributable to the inactivation of enzymes through the blockade of the active thiol groups. Cellular damage by BAL on cells seemed to be due to its powerful reducing activity.
The combined application of PCMB (0.05mg/ml) and BAL (0.001mg/ml) on the HeLa cells produced less obvious cellular damage. This seemed to indicate that PCMB and BAL reacted competitively one another.
Isomytal, sodium azide and Tween 20 affected cells at interphase as well as those in the course of mitosis, especially damage at metaphase being striking.
