Dextran T 500--induction of spreading in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells on glass surface.

The experiments were carried out in order to find factors which could induce attachment and spreading of Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT) cells on solid substrata. In normal culture media, serum-free as well as serum-containing, these cells did not spread and very weakly attached onto glass. It was found that after coating the cell surfaces with dextran T 500 the EAT cells strongly attached and spread extensively on glass. This spreading could be inhibited or reversed by washing out the dextran or adding calf serum. Dextran T 500 caused rapid spreading also in chick embryo fibroblasts and mouse lymphocytes. Some aspects of these results in connection with contemporary views concerning the processes of cell attachment and spreading are discussed.