title: The effects of a glucocorticoid on the cell surface of RLC-GAI cells.
abstract: The purpose of these studies was to examine the effects of a synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, on the cell surface of an epithelial cell line, RLC-GAI, and to investigate the mechanism of these effects. Within hours after addition of dexamethasone sodium phosphate to the cultures, the cells begin to spread going from a more bipolar to a more epithelioid form; this change is maximal by 24 hours. In the spread cells the density of surface microvilli, as visualized in the scanning electron microscope, is considerably reduced. The changes in cell surface and shape elicited by the glucocorticoid are blocked by actinomycin D but not by hydroxyurea. Cell spreading is probably related to the configuration of cell microfilaments since these are increased in numbers in the presence of the hormone and spreading is inhibited by cytochalasin B. An important role of microfilaments in the general mechanism of action of glucocorticoids is suggested.
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000494:pharmacology; D010710:Phosphates; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012964:Sodium
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D003609:Dactinomycin; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D011374:Progesterone; D012313:RNA; D003907:Dexamethasone; D012964:Sodium; D003078:Colchicine; D006918:Hydroxyurea