Cell-cycle independent increase in heat production in response to growth factors in cultured rat fibroblasts: Interpretation by continuum model

Abstract We measured the heat output from rat 3Y1 fibroblastic cells by stopped-flow method using a flow microcalorimeter. When the resting cells were stimulated to initiate DNA synthesis with growth factors, the heat output increased. Although cells normally progressed through S and G2 phases in the absence of any growth factor, cells increased the heat output in response to the growth factors during the progression through these phases. These results are consistent with the continuum model in which the preparation for the initiation of S phase occurs continuously and cumulatively between adjacent S phases not restricted in G1 phase.