Disassembly of microtubules due to low intensity ultrasound.

HeLa and MCF cell monolayers growing on glass cover-slips were sonicated using continuous wave ultrasound at low intensity levels approaching diagnostic conditions. The disassembly of cytoplasmic microtubules immediately after sonication was demonstrated using indirect immunofluorescence. The recovery from exposure to ultrasound, i.e. the reassembly of microtubules, was observed in the cultured cells 2 h after the sonication was discontinued.