[The effect of an injection of N-methylformamide into mice on the cell cycle and cell morphology of ascitic hepatoma 22A]

Abstract

A cell differentiating agent N-methylformamide (MF) was studied for its antitumor activity against a murine ascitic hepatoma 22A. After a 48 hour NMF administration (i/p) the tumor cell number was monitored; the distribution of these cells in the cell cycle was registered by flow cytometry, ultrastructural changes were studied by electron microscope. The polar solvent MF inhibited tumor growth, reduced mitotic activity, and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, led to structural complication of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The analysis of these events is suggestive that in consequence of MF effect on tumor cells, proportion of G0/G1 and M cells was decreased, while the proportion of S and G2 cells was increased.