[Induction of apoptosis in FAF28 cells by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide].

We have studied the influence of translation of inhibitor cycloheximide (CHI) on the Chinese hamster fibroblast line FAF28. This treatment inhibited the cell cycle and induced apoptosis. A short-term treatment and the following removal of CHI reduced the number of apoptotic cells up to the normal level. Under changed conditions (change in CO2 proportion and pH of cultural medium), the ability of CHI to induce apoptosis increases. The study of cell ultrastructure demonstrates three groups of apoptotic cells differing from each other in the state of cytoplasmic organelles: 1) cells with many well-identified organelles; 2) cells with a scanty number of cytoplasmic organelles; 3) cells lacking any recognizable organelles in the cytoplasm. Presumable causes of this morphological variety of apoptotic cells are discussed.