Changes in surface morphology associated with ageing and carcinogen treatment of Chinese hamster lung cells.

The relationship between ageing and transformation has been investigated by a serial study of the changes in cell-surface morphology as normal and carcinogen-treated cells progressed in culture. A progressive increase in the density of cell surface microvilli occurred in association with the adoption of a more rounded profile and concomitant increase in the rate of cell detachment. These changes occurred earlier after carcinogen treatment, which appeared to indicate a carcinogen-induced acceleration of ageing. The alterations have also been described as characteristic of the transformed state. The observations suggest that the expression of in vitro transformation may be the result of continuous selection from a population with genetic instability and variable morphology.