Summary
Embryonic mouse radii were cultured in the presence of colchicine or vinblastine and subsequently examined in the electron microscope. As a result of the administration of these drugs large numbers of vacuoles accumulated in the cytoplasm of the osteoblasts. The electron-dense contents of at least many of the vacuoles most probably consisted of collagen. This conclusion was based on the results of special staining methods and on the similarity of the vacuoles to collagen vacuoles described in the literature. The observations made in this study provide morphological evidence that colchicine and vinblastine disturb the secretion of collagen.
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We express our sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. W. Th. Daems and his co-workers for the generous hospitality and continuous help we received in the Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, University of Leiden. We are greatly indebted to Mr. L. V. Dijkhoff for his skilful technical assistance.
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Scherft, J.P., Heersche, J.N.M. Accumulation of collagen-containing vacuoles in osteoblasts after administration of colchicine. Cell Tissue Res. 157, 353–365 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225526
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225526