Effects of chondroitin-4-sulphate on survival, sizes and ultrastructures of cultured WI-38 fibroblasts and fibroblasts from progeria patients.
WI-38 fibroblasts from 'normal' individuals and skin fibroblasts from patients displaying classical symptoms of progeria (accelerated aging) were maintained in tissue culture with and without periodic supplementation of 0.25 mg/ml of chondroitin-4-sulphate (C-4-S) during the ultimate phase of slowed division (phase 3). When C-4-S was not present in the culture medium, cell counts (not necessarily indicative of relative rates of cell division) and mean cell volumes were lower, and intracellular aberrations were higher, in both types of fibroblasts (normal and progeria) at, and even before, the 47th-50th and 13th-16th passages, respectively. The authors emphasise effects of C-4-S in preserving normal ultrastructure, pointing out that C-4-S does not fulfil the criteria of a mitogen and that any possible increases in rates of mitosis following supplementation with this substance are probably secondary to an enhanced metabolic environment.
Schjeide
O A
OA
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb 60115.
Griffiths
T D
TD
Morrison
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LM
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D011371:Progeria / Q000473:pathology*
D002807:Chondroitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates