The effect of colcemid on the heat survival of mitotic V79 Chinese hamster cells.

V79 Chinese hamster cells were collected by colcemid addition to study the effect of heat on mitosis. When they were heated at 42 degrees C and 45 degrees C in the presence of 0.06 micrograms/mL colcemid, cell survival increased over the control samples, which were heated in ordinary medium. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cells heated to 45 degrees C in the presence or absence of colcemid had fewer microvilli on the surface, but they did not have increased bleb formation. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the chromatin was diffuse in the heated cells and the kinetochores were indistinct. The mitochondria in the heated cells were also swollen and contained visible particles.