Abstract |
Flow cytometric and light/fluorescence microscopic analyses indicate that tributylin (TBT) alters the plasma membrane/cytoplasm complex of the murine erythroleukemic cell (MELC) in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The flow cytometric parameter axial light loss, a measure of cell volume, decrease cell exposed to 5 mu M TBT relative to control cells or cells exposed to 50 mu M TBT. The flow cytometric parameter 90 degree light scatter, a function of refractive index and a measure of protein content, increases as a function of TBT concentration above 0.5 mu M. Following exposure to TBT concentrations greater than 0.5 mu M but less than 50 mu M, DNA distribution across the cell cycle cannot be resolved adequately by flow cytometry. Also, the cells become resistant to solubilization of the cell membrane/cytoplasm complex by nonionic detergents. |