Cell cycle phases of a novel human neural cell line and the effect of exogenous gangliosides

Cell cycle phases of a new cell line (10-1) derived from a gemistocytic astrocytoma were analysed with computer-generated curves fit to the percentage of labeled metaphases at various times after a [ 3 H]-thymidine pulse. These large slowly growing tumor cells in vitro had a mitotic index of 2.8%, a confluent density of 34400 cells/cm 2 and an average DNA content of 7.91 pg/cell. Ganglioside treatment (50 uM in the culture medium) prolonged the generation time (26 hrs to 33 hrs) as well as all the phases of the cell cycle. The most noticeable effect of ganglioside exposure was to increase the G 1 phase by 40%. Therefore we conclude that exogenously added membrane components, such as gangliosides, can lengthen the gemistocytic astrocytoma cell cycle in vitro and modulate the proliferation of these neural cells.