COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS ON ALPHA-TUBULIN MESSENGER-RNA, MICROTUBULES AND NICOTINIC RECEPTOR-MEDIATED CATECHOLAMINE SECRETION IN ADRENAL CHROMAFFIN CELLS IN CULTURE

1. Four hour treatments of adrenal chromaffin cells with colchicine (1 0, 100 mu M and 1 mM), tubulozole (10 mu M) or podophyllotoxin (100 mu M) decreases alpha-tubulin mRNA content. Vinblastine (10 mu M) and ta xol (10 mu M), however, do not decrease alpha-tubulin mRNA content. 2. Immunocytochemical techniques demonstrate that 4 hr treatments with a ll of the antimitotic drugs (colchicine, podophyllotoxin, taxol, tubul ozole and vinblastine) produce abnormal microtubule arrays.