This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pathak, S. N. Articles by Dave, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pathak, S. N. Articles by Dave, C.

Morphological Evidence for an Antimitochondrial Action by Methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone)¹

Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Grace Cancer Drug Center, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, New York State Department of Health, Buffalo, New York 14263

Exposure of cultured leukemia L1210 cells to 0.1 to 10 µM methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation, beginning after about 1 to 2 generation times (12 to 24 hr). Ultrastructural examination of the cells treated at and above 1.0 µM concentrations of drug for 24 hr revealed uniform damage to mitochondria. The basic lesion involved extensive swelling of the mitochondrion, a deterioration and eventual loss of cristae, and a decrease in the matrix density. This damage preceded growth inhibition by about 12 hr and did not immediately affect cell viability as detected by trypan blue dye exclusion. Whether these findings are related to the known actions of the drug on polyamine metabolism is not clear at present.

¹ Supported in part, by NIH grants CA-13038, CA-15143, and GM-23233, USPHS.

Received 1/21/77. Accepted 4/ 6/77.