Biomaterial Database

The effects of halothane on cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells. I. Inhibition of morphological differentiation. 1974

R E Hinkley, and A G Telser

Mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone NB2a) were cultured in the presence of 0.3-2.1% halothane in the gas phase for up to 72 h. Halothane inhibited neurite extension dose dependently and virtually abolished microspike formation even at the lowest concentration tested. These effects were completely reversible. Electron microscopy demonstrated that microfilaments measuring 40-80 A in diameter are the only fibrous organelles visible within microspikes. When the cells were exposed to halothane, no microfilamentous complexes could be identified in any cells and the subcortical regions of neurites often appeared devoid of individual microfilaments. Microtubules were still present in neurites after exposure to halothane concentrations at which microfilaments disappeared. However, at concentrations above 1.0%, microtubules gradually appeared to decrease in number. Short-term experiments showed that existing neurites and microspikes rapidly retracted when suddenly exposed to culture medium equilibrated with 1.0% halothane and quickly reformed when the halothane was removed. The inhibition of neuroblastoma cell differentiation by halothane appears to be mediated by disruption of 40-80 A diameter microfilaments.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008858	Microscopy, Phase-Contrast	A form of interference microscopy in which variations of the refracting index in the object are converted into variations of intensity in the image. This is achieved by the action of a phase plate.	Phase-Contrast Microscopy,Microscopies, Phase-Contrast,Microscopy, Phase Contrast,Phase Contrast Microscopy,Phase-Contrast Microscopies
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D009417	Nerve Tissue	Differentiated tissue of the central nervous system composed of NERVE CELLS, fibers, DENDRITES, and specialized supporting cells.	Nervous Tissue,Nerve Tissues,Nervous Tissues,Tissue, Nerve,Tissue, Nervous,Tissues, Nerve,Tissues, Nervous
D009447	Neuroblastoma	A common neoplasm of early childhood arising from neural crest cells in the sympathetic nervous system, and characterized by diverse clinical behavior, ranging from spontaneous remission to rapid metastatic progression and death. This tumor is the most common intraabdominal malignancy of childhood, but it may also arise from thorax, neck, or rarely occur in the central nervous system. Histologic features include uniform round cells with hyperchromatic nuclei arranged in nests and separated by fibrovascular septa. Neuroblastomas may be associated with the opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome. (From DeVita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2099-2101; Curr Opin Oncol 1998 Jan;10(1):43-51)	Neuroblastomas
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002999	Clone Cells	A group of genetically identical cells all descended from a single common ancestral cell by mitosis in eukaryotes or by binary fission in prokaryotes. Clone cells also include populations of recombinant DNA molecules all carrying the same inserted sequence. (From King & Stansfield, Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Clones,Cell, Clone,Cells, Clone,Clone,Clone Cell
D006221	Halothane	A nonflammable, halogenated, hydrocarbon anesthetic that provides relatively rapid induction with little or no excitement. Analgesia may not be adequate. NITROUS OXIDE is often given concomitantly. Because halothane may not produce sufficient muscle relaxation, supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents may be required. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p178)	1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-Chloro-2-Bromoethane,Fluothane,Ftorotan,Narcotan
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia