Colchicine-induced appearance (proliferation) of smooth sarcoplasmic reticulum in arterial smooth muscle cells.

Colchicine treatment resulted in the appearance and proliferation of smooth sarcoplasmic reticulum in some smooth muscle cells of the aortic and pulmonary trunk walls in the rabbit. The significance of cytoplasmic microtubules and/or membrane-bound tubulin for the morphogenesis, functioning and control of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in different kinds of cells is discussed.