Morphological alterations induced by prostaglandins E1, F2 alpha and A1 in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines.

Monolayer cultures of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast tumor cell lines were treated with prostaglandins PGE1, PGF2 alpha and PGA1 in a concentration range of 10(-12)-10(-4) M and studied at ultrastructural level. Electron microscopic examinations of both cell lines revealed that PGE1, PGF2 alpha and PGA1 induced morphological changes at concentrations above 10(-8) M. In both the small and large MDA-MB-231 cells, deformation of mitochondrial cristae, increased density of mitochondrial matrix and accumulation of lysosomal-like vesicles were observed. In the nuclei morphological, modifications included, the presence of nuclear bodies, occasional nuclear inclusions, nucleolar budding and the disappearance of the nucleolar granular components. In MCF-7 cells, disorganization of mitochondrial cristae and an increase in their matrix density were also observed. At nuclear level, little or no morphological alterations were observed. The results also indicated that the plasma membranes of both cell lines were the most sensitive organelles to PGs action as in many cells their microvilli were either shortened and spherical in shape or absent.