Microtubular system in cultured mouse epithelial cells.

Previous observations had shown that colcemid does not affect locomotion of epithelial cells. Nevertheless, cultured mouse kidney cells forming epithelial sheets were found to contain a well-developed microtubular system sensitive to colcemid. The orientation of microtubules in the epithelial cells was not correlated with the stable or active state of the cell edges. It is suggested that microtubular system of the epithelial cells forming coherent sheets, in contrast to that of individually moving fibroblasts, is not essential for stabilization of the lateral cell edges.