[Morphological bases of dopamine effect on HEP-2 tumor cells viability].

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the morpho-functional organization of a classical object of cytological research - cultured HEp-2 tumor cells, using dopamine as a penetrating agent, inducing the polymerization of cytosolic actin. It was demonstrated that dopamine introduced into the incubation medium reduced viability and caused morphological disturbances of cultured HEp-2 cells; these effects were proportional to dopamine concentrations (1.0 x 10(-4) M to 1.

[Cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristic of BHK-21 cells exposed to dopamine].

BHK-21 cells were incubated in a medium containing dopamine (DA) and then their catecholamine content evaluated by using the Falck cytochemical method. The significant intensification of cell fluorescence as compared to that one in control preparations was detected; this effect was proportional to DA concentration and exposure duration and was more pronounced in cells in suspension than in those attached to the substrate. Simultaneous ultrastructural investigation has shown that an increased intensity of the cytoplasm fluorescence correlated with the appearance of the dense network of fibrils that were morphologically identified as F-actin microfilaments.

[The influence of dopamine on the ultrastructure of BHK-21 cells].

The influence of dopamine on the haloperidol of BHK-21 cells being in suspension or attached to substrate was investigated. It was shown that the ultrastructural changes affected mainly the cellular loci enriched by the cytoskeleton actin such as intercellular desmosome-like contacts, microvilli and cortical layer or mesh just beneath the plasmatic membrane. The desmosome-like contacts were hypertrophied, their electron density was increased and fibrilar bridges appeared in specialized contacts.

[The cultivation of fragments of the parotid venom-secreting gland in the common adder (Vipera berus)].

The primary culture of the Vipera berus poison-secretory parotid gland has been obtained. The morphology of the intact secretory epithelium and epithelial cells cultured in different conditions has been examined by light and electron microscopy. The secretory epithelium cells were able to survive in the cultural medium and to adapt to in vitro conditions maintaining their nearly normal ultrastructure corresponding to the stage of active poison secretion commonly observed in epithelial cells of the native gland.

[Changes in the rates of glucose consumption and lactate release by cells in perfused and nonperfused cultures].

The energetic state of Chinese hamster fibroblasts was investigated under stationary cultural conditions and under condition of culture medium perfusion immediately above the cells. Specific rates of glucose utilization and lactate formation under the former conditions (1.88 +/- 0.