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The influence of the cell cycle on structure and number of nucleoli in cultured human lymphocytes

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Summary

The nucleoli of lymphocytes undergo a typical sequence of structural changes after stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin. These changes are independent of the cell cycle. Neither the inhibition of DNA-synthesis (by adenosine and methotrexate), nor the elimination of postmitotic interphase nuclei (by a colchicine block of mitoses), nor the release from such blocks has a noticeable effect on nucleolar structure or on the sequence of nucleolar changes. The number of nucleoli per cell is clearly influenced by the cell cycle. Mitosis leads to a marked increase in the number of nucleoli, whereas in all stages of interphase a decrease occurs.

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Wachtler, F., Schwarzacher, H.G. & Ellinger, A. The influence of the cell cycle on structure and number of nucleoli in cultured human lymphocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 225, 155–163 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216225

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