title: Beta-carotene alters the morphology of NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells.
abstract: The effect of beta-carotene on the morphology of NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells that had undergone beta-carotene-induced growth reduction (P < 0.05) was examined. The cells were grown at 1 x 10(8) cells/L and were cultured with or without 20 micromol/L beta-carotene. The qualitative electron microscopic observations revealed that beta-carotene-treated cells contained more vacuoles than control cells not treated with beta-carotene. The quantitative image analysis showed a significantly smaller (P < 0.05) value of the nuclear roundness factor for treated cells compared with control cells, indicating an irregular nuclear morphology of beta-carotene-treated cells. The major diameter of the cells and the minor diameter of the nuclei were significantly smaller (P < 0.05), and the nuclear perimeter was significantly larger (P < 0.05) in beta-carotene-treated cells. The ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm was significantly less (P < 0.05) in beta-carotene-treated cells compared with control cells, indicating a less malignant growth of the cells. These results demonstrate that the treatment of small cell lung cancer cells with beta-carotene induces morphological changes in the cells concomitant with a reduction in their proliferation. Further investigation is required to show a direct effect of beta-carotene or its intracellular polar metabolites on the morphology of these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA. pprakash_mail@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene