Quantitative analysis of ultrastructure of tumor cells in tissue culture

Abstract

The fine structure of the mitochondria, ergastoplasm, and polysomes of cells of primary and transplanted tumor tissue cultures was studied by morphometry. In both primary and transplanted cultures considerable differences were found in the fine structure of cells of different strains. On the whole, however, these groups differed significantly in the organization of their cytoplasmic protein-synthesizing apparatus. Primary cultures were characterized by a more reduced ergastoplasm and a more highly developed polysome system. For tumor cells, culture in vitro can be presumed to be a factor facilitating further reorganization of the protein-synthesizing system toward the synthesis of substrates necessary for growth and multiplication of the cell mass.