Vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis in cultured fibroblasts.

1. Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were incubated in a medium containing 10(-5) M vinblastine for 1, 2 and 3 hr. Morphometric analyses were performed after an incubation period of 2 hr. 2. The volume fraction of advanced autophagic vacuoles increased tenfold (P less than 0.05) concomitantly with a sixfold decrease in round lysosomes (P less than 0.01). 3. The volume fractions of pleomorphic lysosomes, nascent autophagic vacuoles and residual bodies did not differ significantly from the control values. 4. In many cells, advanced autophagic vacuoles resembled multivesicular bodies, which may indicate that the type of autophagocytosis occurring in cultured fibroblasts is microautophagy.