Investigations in vitro on the behaviour of chromosomes and the mitotic apparatus in endosperm cells of Haemanthus katherinae Baker treated with oleander glycosides

Abstract

The effect of oleander glycosides on dividing endosperm cells of Haemanthus katherine was investigated in vitro. The disturbances in the successive cell division phases were analysed in reference to cytokinesis. A strong tendency was noted to restitution nuclei formation in all phases of mitosis, and particularly in prophase. The observed chromosome pattern is the result of disturbances in prometaphase and anaphase chromosome movements owing to disturbances in the function of 'the 'mitotic spindle. It is probable that oleander glycosides inhibit formatiom of 'the microtubules of the mitotic spindle and disorganize the already formed spindle. They cause minor disturbances in cytokinesis, although frequently cell plates arise in quite unexpected places. The results of the present study are compared with those obtained in the case of root meristematic cells (Tarkowska, 1971a, b).