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I M Gelfand

Publications and source records attributed to I M Gelfand.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Quantitative evaluation of cell orientation in culture.

A quantitative method to assess mutual orientation of cells in cultures on a substrate includes the following operations: (1) the cellular groups to be evaluated are chosen; (2) position of the long axis for each nucleus of the group is determined; (3) the axis OX is arbitrary chosen for every group and the angles alphai between the long axis of every nucleus i and the axis OX are measured. Every nucleus i corresponds to a vector of unit length ei with the angles 2alpha. D, the mean of the vectors ei for every cell group is calculated. This value of D is compared with a set of values of D computed according to a model of mutual orientation studies in a simulation experiment. In this model the group of n vectors consists of a fraction of Kn parallel vectors (o less than or equal to K less than or equal to I) and of (I minus K)n randomly oriented vectors. K corresponding to the computed D which is equal to the experimental value of D is considered as an index of orientation for the group. Contact orientation with respect to the relief of the substrate may be evaluated as a root mean square deviation sigma0 to the angles between the long axes of cell nuclei and the direction of relief. Examples of the measurements of K and sigma0 in cell cultures are given.

Animals↗

Orientation of mitosis of fibroblasts is determined in the interphase.

Time-lapse films of the cultures of mouse L fibroblasts have been analyzed to find out the angles between the direction of the big axis of interphase nucleus before mitosis and the direction of the mitotic furrow in the same cell. In 41 out of 51 mitoses this angle has been found to be more than 60 degrees . Thus, the orientation of mitotic furrows depends on the internal polarity of the cell before mitosis.

Animals↗

Contact inhibition of movement in the cultures of transformed cells.

Results of cell-cell collisions were studied with the aid of time-lapse microcinematography in primary cultures of normal mouse-embryo fibroblast-like cells and in cultures of transformed mouse cells of two types: (a) primary fibroblast-like cells transformed by Moloney mouse sarcoma virus; (b) neoplastic fibroblasts of the CIM strain. Collisions of normal fibroblast-like cells and CIM cells in mixed cultures were also analyzed. Classification of the results of collisions was based on observation of the movements of the active cell edge during the first hour after the moment when this edge had contacted another cell. Three types of collision results were detected: halt of the active edge, overlapping, and underlapping. The relative number of overlappings was not higher and that of halts not lower in the cultures of transformed cells as compared with those of normal cells. Analysis of the collisions of normal fibroblasts with transformed cells gave similar results. Thus, the altered morphology of the cultures of these transformed cells cannot be explained by loss of contact inhibition of movement leading to increased ability of cells to move over the surfaces of other cells after collision.

Animals↗

Defective formation of the lamellar cytoplasm by neoplastic fibroblasts (L cells-transformed cells-cell attachment-contact inhibition-scanning electron microscopy-microcinematography).

Isolated cultures of mouse L-cells are similar to those of normal cells in showing contact inhibition of movement and topoinhibition of growth. In mixed cultures with untransformed mouse embryo fibroblasts, their parent strain, however, L cells are able to form colonies above the monolayer of normal fibroblasts, i.e., they have a property characteristic of transformed cells. Analysis of microcinematographic data suggests that the behavior of L cells in mixed cultures is a result of their defective attachment to the substratum. Scanning electron microscopy showed that attachment of a normal fibroblast was accompanied by the formation of a wide ring of flattened cytoplasm spread on the substratum (lamellar cytoplasm). This structure was observed to disintegrate in newly attached L cells. The structure of the lamellar cytoplasm remained abnormal in the fully spread L cells. The mean area of lamellar cytoplasm was 3- to 4-times less in L cells than in normal fibroblasts. It is suggested that deficient formation of lamellar cytoplasm may be the basis of the inability of L cells to interact normally with embryo fibroblasts.

Animals↗

Initiation of DNA synthesis in cell cultures by colcemid.

Mitotic inhibitors (colcemid, colchicine, and vinblastine) initiate DNA synthesis in dense stationary cultures of mouse embryo fibroblast-like cells. This initiation is not due to any changes in local cell population density. Relationships between the activation of proliferation and other changes of interphase fibroblast-like cells produced by the mitotic inhibitors (disappearance of cytoplasmic microtubules and activation of movements of cell surface) are discussed.

Animals↗