[Karyotype of continuous cell lines. I. The karyotype variability of M-HeLa cells cultured by static and roll-tube methods].

A comparative investigation of three M-HeLa sublines, being of common origin but differing in cultivation technique (roller or static), was undertaken using G- and C-banding. It is shown that the M-HeLa sublines of a non-clonal origin differ in the level of their karyotype variability as compared to most human and animal lines studied earlier. A definite set of normal and marker chromosomes, as well as a typical karyotype, was revealed for either subline tested. The change of the static technique of cultivation into the roller one was accompanied with changes in the modal class, with the increase in polyploid cell number and proliferation index. It is postulated that the change of cultivation technique may result in selection of defined cell types due to the pre-existed karyotype variability.