Исследование влияния колхицина на нативные фибробласты методами атомно-силовой и конфокальной микроскопии

Abstract

Using atomic force and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we studied the effect of colchicine, 1 µg/ml, which is known to cause the depolymerization of tubulin microtubules, on the primary rat fibroblast culture. When analyzing atomic force microscopy data, the sliding type of probe–cell contact was revealed by observing a clear increase of deformation signal at the sample inclined areas. For an unambiguous interpretation of the observed variations in the mechanical characteristics of fibroblasts, it is necessary to prove the sliding of the probe over the cell surface. It was found that some fibroblasts are soft and are characterized by a quite uniform distribution of the apparent Young's modulus over their surface, while others, much harder cells have rigid fibrous structures on the Young's modulus map. Colchicine has been shown to cause significant cell hardening in both groups. Confocal microscopy data show that the observed effect is associated with an increase in the intracellular content of F-actin in fibroblasts.