Lithium Alters Mitotic Progression in Stamen Hair Cells of Tradescantia in a Time-Dependent and Reversible Fashion

    October 1987 in “ PubMed ”
    Wolniak Sm
    TLDR Lithium temporarily stops cell division in plant cells, but this can be reversed with certain chemicals.
    The study found that lithium chloride (LiCl) altered the mitotic progression in stamen hair cells of Tradescantia in a time-dependent manner. Treatment with 50 microM to 1 mM LiCl during late prophase caused over 80% of cells to fail entering metaphase, with many arrested in metaphase. This arrest could be reversed by adding 10 microM myo-inositol or 100 microM CaCl2, with CaCl2 acting faster. The study suggested that myo-inositol and Ca2+ reversed the arrest through different mechanisms. Additionally, LiCl treatment in mid-late-metaphase arrested chromosome separation, which could also be restored by myo-inositol or CaCl2.
    Discuss this study in the Community →