Flow cytometric analysis of hepatoma tissue and HeLa cells grown on various types of microbeads using hydroxyurea, nocodazole and aphidicolin in succession.

Applying Hydroxyurea, Nocodazole and Aphidicolin in succession to obtain parasynchronous growth, the progression of HTC and HeLa cells through the cell cycle has been monitored by laser flow cytometry. The experimental results show that HTC cells behave identically whether grown in monolayer or attached to dextran-based microbeads but that the chemical nature of the micro-support itself plays an important role especially on the speed with which the cells pass from mitosis into G1, polyacrylamide-based microbeads being superior in this respect.

Laser flow cytofluorometric analysis of HTC cells synchronized with hydroxyurea, nocodazole and aphidicolin.

The technique of laser flow cytofluorometry has been used to monitor the arrival in G1 and the subsequent progression through the cell cycle of HTC cells accumulated in metaphase with colcemid alone or after treatment with hydroxyurea and Nocodazole. Under the experimental conditions used in this study, the latter procedure gives much better results, avoiding in particular the extensive formation of micronucleated cells. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase, in combination with Nocodazole, provides a useful method to tightly synchronize these cells at the G1/S border.