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Changes in the mitotic cycle induced by α-solanine

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Summary

Low concentrations of α-solanine stimulated the growth of cultured human fibroblasts, while higher concentration (>30 μg ml-1) had a markedly inhibitory effect. Autoradiographic studies indicated that the stimulation of cell growth was due to a shortening of the G1 phase. Feulgen microdensitometry of cells treated with high doses of α-solanine revealed an abnormal accumulation of cells in G2. The response of cultured human fibroblasts to low doses of α-solanine is comparable to that of sex hormones on target tissues. It is concluded that by virtue of either its stimulatory or its inhibitory effect on cell growth, α-solanine could act as a human teratogen.

Zusammenfassung

Niedrige Dosen von α-Solanine übten einen stimulierenden Effekt auf das Wachstum menschlicher Fibroblastenkulturen aus, während höhere Konzentrationen (>30 μg ml-1) wachstumshemmend wirkten. Autoradiographische Untersuchungen zeigten, daß die Wachstumsstimulierung der Zellen auf einer Verkürzung der G1-Phase beruht. DNS-Messungen von Feulgen-gefärbten, mit hohen Dosen von α-Solanine behandelten Zellen ließen auf eine abnorm hohe Ansammlung der Zellen in G2 schließen. Die Reaktion der Fibroblasten auf niedrige Dosen von α-Solanine erinnert an die Wirkung der Geschlechtschormone auf Targetzellen. Es wird angenommen, daß sowohl wegen der Stimulierung als auch wegen des Hemmungseffekts auf das Zellwachstum α-Solanine als ein mögliches menschliches Teratogen gelten muß.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, University College London, London, UK

    David Kirk & Ursula Mittwoch

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  1. David Kirk
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  2. Ursula Mittwoch
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Kirk, D., Mittwoch, U. Changes in the mitotic cycle induced by α-solanine. Hum Genet 26, 105–111 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278436

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278436

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