Premium
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THREE‐DIMENSIONAL COLONIES OF HUMAN GLIOMA CELLS IN AGAROSE CULTURE
Author(s) -
Carlsson J.,
Brunk U.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section a pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0365-4184
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1977.tb00416.x
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , vacuole , mitotic index , agarose , biology , mitosis , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology
The fine structure of human glioma cells cultivated as three‐dimensional colonies in agarose was investigated during exponential growth. The colonies did not show central degeneration, although they reached diameters of up to 600 μ m. Large extra‐cellular spaces extended throughout the colonies. The mean volumetric fraction of the spaces increased from about 20 per cent at the periphery up to nearly 40 per cent in the central regions. The quotient between nuclei and cytoplasm showed a slight decrease with depth. A proliferative gradient existed in the colonies, i.e. the mitotic index decreased almost exponentially with the distance from the surface. The distance at which the mitotic index changed by a factor of 2 was about 90 μ m, corresponding to nearly five cell diameters. Cytoplasmic extensions, with a ruffling‐like appearance, occurred both at the periphery and in the centre of the colonies but were larger and more frequent at the periphery. The fractions of mitochondria and vacuoles in the cytoplasm showed rather large local variations. However, the mean number of mitochondria decreased somewhat towards the centre and the number of vacuoles containing highly electron‐absorbing substance increased in the most central regions.