RESUMO
Comparison of the morphometric patterns obtained by electron microscopy with data from the biochemical analysis of metabolism in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and P-388 leukemia cells, in each phase of the cell cycle, shows a distinct correlation between structure and function which is demonstrated by the fact that stage duration in the structure changes coincides with metabolism alteration. Cell volume and total protein content increase simultaneously in all cell cycle stages. Decrease in the heterochromatin fraction in the nuclei occurs against the sharp DNA reduplication and transcription background. Throughout a cell cycle, the cell respiration intensity gradually increases. Simultaneously the number and functional activity of mitochondria increase.
