Influence of methotrexate on respiration and ultrastructure of meristematic cells from Allium cepa L. roots

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that methotrexate (an oncostatic preparation) inhibits cellular respiration and reduces the permeability of plasmalemma and tonoplast in cells ofAllium cepa roots. Changes were also found in the ultrastructure of meristematic cells, consisting presence of numerous mitochondria with a dense matrix, a highly developed system of cristae arid an increased number of vacuoles frequently derived from the ER.