Extensive surface changes of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells induced by intracellular Li+.

Abstract

Ehrlich ascites tumor cells took up Li+ with alanine through an Na+ dependent amino acid transport system. Cells that had taken up Li+ with alanine had small swellings or blebs on their surface, whereas cells that had been incubated with 1.0 mM Li+ alone showed no morphological changes. These results indicate that Li+ incorporated into Ehrlich cells causes extensive surface changes. These changes may be due to disruption of the cytoskeleton.