1: Microsc Microanal.  2003 Aug;9(4):311-29.  

Microscopic aspects of autoschizic cell death in human ovarian carcinoma (2774)
cells following vitamin C, vitamin K3 or vitamin C:K3 treatment.

Gilloteaux J, Jamison JM, Arnold D, Taper HS, Von Gruenigen VE, Summers JL.

Department of Urology, Summa Health System, Akron, OH 44304, USA.
jagillot@yahoo.com

Human ovarian carcinoma cells (MDAH 2774) were treated with sodium ascorbate
(VC), menadione (VK3), or with a VC:VK3 combination for 1 h and then studied
using light microscopy (LM) and scanning (SEM) and transmission electron (TEM)
microscopy. Plasma membrane damage (blisters and blebs, hairy aspect) results
from vitamin C (VC) treatment, while cytoskeletal damage and self-morsellation
are caused by vitamin K3 (VK3) treatment. VC:VK3-treated cells exhibit
exacerbated injuries characteristic of both VC and VK3 treatment as well as a
significant decrease in cell diameters from 20-35 microm for control cells to
7-12 microm for VC:VK3 treatment. Moreover, after a 1-h exposure to the vitamin
combination, autoschizis (43%), apoptosis (3%), and oncosis (1.9%) are observed
at the percentages indicated. All cellular changes associated with autoschizis
observed with SEM were confirmed by LM and TEM observations and are consistent
with cell death by autoschizis: decrease in cell size, cytoplasmic
self-excisions, degradation of the nucleus and nucleolus without formation of
apoptotic bodies and, ultimately, karyorrhexis and karyolysis. These results
also suggest that the vitamin combination may find clinical use in the treatment
of ovarian cancer.

PMID: 12901765 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]