[Changes in the "shape reaction" and "orientation reaction" of cell nuclei as a consequence of neoplastic transformation].

Reactions of cell nuclei on curvature of cylindrical surfaces (curvature radii 333, 75 or 61 mcm) in 9 lines of cultured transformed human, Syrian hamster, rat and murine fibroblasts were studied quantitatively. The nuclear elongation was assessed as a ratio of long to short axes. Contact orientation was characterized by values derived from the angles, formed by long nuclear axes with the direction of cylinder axis. Due to transformation, cells lost the ability to elongate their nuclei in response to cultivation on cylindrical surfaces. The ability of cells cultured on cylindrical surfaces to increase the contact orientation values was also lost or weakened considerably.