EFFECT OF MICROTUBULE-SPECIFIC DRUGS UPON SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX IN FIBROBLASTIC CULTURES

The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of microtubule- specific digs, taxol and colcemid, on the distribution of cell-associa ted extracellular matrix in dense cultures of fibroblasts. Immunomorph ological examination of human seven-day cultures revealed a dense netw ork of fibronectin and tenascin matrix filaments preferentially orient ed in parallel with the long axes of cell bodies. Depolymerization of the microtubular system by colcemid and its disorganization by taxol l ed to rapid and drastic changes in the organization of matrix network: fibronectin and tenascin filaments became disordered and, in particul ar, lost any orientation. These data show that the microtubular system controls the morphological organization, not only of intracellular cy toskeletal systems, but also of extracellular matrix structures.