Cinematographic study of the effects of cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum on mouse L cells.

Cells of mouse fibroblasts line L were grown one hour in the presence of cisplatin. Their fate was then followed by time-lapse microcinematography during six days. Up to the concentration 3.2 mumol 1(-1) there was little effect observed. Higher concentrations induced prolongation of mitosis and interphase, finally resulting in non-cycling cells with complete and persistent division arrest at 25 mumol 1(-1). After 72 hours following the treatment the cellular and nuclear volumes in non-cycling cells began to grow progressively. The mobility and the ruffling activity of the cell membrane were unaltered. Thus, energy generation, the function of the cytoskeleton, and synthetic processes seemed unchanged. The effect of cisplatin is cytostatic rather than cytotoxic.