DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE-INDUCED CELL-DEATH OF MURINE ERYTHROLEUKEMIA-CELLS EXPOSED TO IONIZING-RADIATION

The present investigation was aimed at studying the effects of dimethy lsulfoxide (DMSO) in combination with high dose (15 and 60 Gy) ionisin g radiation on the growth and differentiation of murine erythroleukemi a cells (MEL). The incubation with DMSO was performed for 96 h startin g immediately after exposure to radiation and resulted only in a sligh t inhibition of cell growth and in a high increase in cell death with the induction of both necrosis and apoptosis. The enhancement of radia tion cytotoxicity was directly related to dose, time in culture and de gree of differentiation as demonstrated by the severe and multiple abe rrations observed in light and electron microscopy. Of interest was th e observation in induced cells of a marked rearrangement of the plasma membrane architecture as well as that of the nuclear envelope, with a massive translocation and/or decrease in the nuclear pore complexes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.