Earle's L-929 fibroblasts treated with mitosis-arresting but sub-lethal doses of vinblastine sulfate (VLB) show hypertrophy of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and annulate lamellae. Exposure of the cells to heavier doses of vincristine sulfate (VCR), a VLB-related drug, leads to the accumulation of large amounts of helical polyribosomes, Golgi membranes and crystals in the cytoplasm. In many of these cells a large number of helical polyribosomes are arranged in prominent linear rows, some of which may be up to 5 micrometers in length. Figure 1 shows a large array of helical polyribosomes near a crystalline mass (CRS) in an Earle's L-929 fibroblast exposed to VCR (5ϒ/ml.) for 3 hours At a higher magnification, as seen in figure 2, the helical polyribosomes are seen arranged in parallel rows. In favorably cut sections, a prominent backbone like "stalk" of finely granular material, measuring approximately 300Å in width is seen in close association with the linear rows of helical polyribosomes.
Ultrasound Tomography of the Breast Using Linear Arrays
