Ultrastructural changes produced in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells by ultraviolet-visible radiation in the presence of melanins

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Pigment Cell Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0749.1988.tb00143.x· OSTI ID:6073811

Lea, P J; Pawlowski, A; Persad, S D; Menon, I A; Haberman, H F

Irradiation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in the presence of pheomelanin, i.e., red hair melanin (RHM), has been reported to produce extensive cell lysis. Irradiation in the presence of eumelanin, i.e., black hair melanin (BHM), or irradiation in the absence of either type of melanin did not produce this effect. We observed that RHM particles penetrated the cell membrane without apparent structural damage to the cell or the cell membrane. Irradiation of the cells in the absence of melanin did not produce any changes in the ultrastructure of the cells. Incubation of the cells in the dark in the presence of RHM produced only minor structural, mainly cytoplasmic changes. Irradiation of the cells in the presence of RHM produced extensive ultrastructural changes prior to complete cell lysis; these changes were more severe than the effects of incubation of the cells in the dark in the presence of RHM. When the cells incubated in the dark or irradiated in the presence of latex particles or either one of the eumelanins particles, viz. BHM or synthetic dopa melanin, these particles did not penetrate into the cells or produce any ultrastructural changes. These particles were in fact not even ingested by the cells.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6073811
• Journal Information: Pigment Cell Res.; (United States), Vol. 1:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASCITES TUMOR CELLS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
MELANIN
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CARCINOMAS
CELL KILLING
CELL MEMBRANES
CELL NUCLEI
CYTOPLASM
EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
MICE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPERIMENTAL NEOPLASMS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
TUMOR CELLS
VERTEBRATES
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture