The effects of pemoline on nuclear fusion, karyokinesis, and cytokinesis in caffeine treated cells.

The effect of 0.2% caffeine combined with 5-phenyl-2-imino-4 oxazolidone (pemoline, Tradon), in different ways, on mitosis in lateral roots of Vicia faba L. has been studied by means of aerated hydrocultivation. The results show that prolonged treatment with 10(-6) g/ml or 3 x 10(-4) g/ml (=saturated solution) pemoline to a certain degree compensates the negative influences of caffeine on mitotic index during and after the caffeine treatment. Depending on the duration of treatment 10(-6) g/ml pemoline are able to increase rates of nuclear fusions, bimitoses and 4n-mitoses, while 3 x 10(-4) g/ml have the opposite effects. The number of irregular cytokineses is increased by 10(-6) g/ml, whereas no abnormal cell walls are formed during treatment with 3 x 10(-4) g/ml pemoline. The conclusion is that pemoline has the same sites of action as caffeine, partly antagonistically, partly synergistically.