[The effect of hydroxyurea on the ciliogenesis in ciliated epithelium of mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis].

An active proliferation of the cells of ciliary epithelium in the foot of mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis was shown using radioautography. Cells labeled with 3H-tymidine were clustered into small groups. Hydroxyurea treatment decreased the proliferation of the epithelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that surface of the mollusk foot was covered by extensive ciliated folds. The clusters of the cells covered with microvilli and with short cilia were localized at the bases of these folds. The cells covered with microvilli and with short cilia disappeared after 24 h of hydroxyurea treatment, ciliary epithelium appeared homogeneous and was composed of only multi-ciliated cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed no effect of the hydroxyurea on the centriole- and ciliogenesis in the multi-ciliated cells. We suggest that hydroxyurea inhibits cell proliferation and induces the differentiation of cells covered with microvilli in multi-ciliated cells.