CELLULAR AUTOPHAGOCYTOSIS INDUCED BY DEPRIVATION OF SERUM AND AMINO-ACIDS IN HELA-CELLS

Abstract

Morphologic alterations in HeLa [human uterine cervical cancer] deprived of serum and amino acids were studied by EM and light microscopy. After complete deprivation for 1, 3 or 6 h, many cells contained autophagic vacuoles enclosing clearly recognizable cell organelles. The proportion of cells showing autophagy rose from 4 to 37% in the 1st 3 h of deprivation. Acid phosphatase reaction product was localized within many of the autophagic vacuoles by a modified Gomori method. After 12 or 24 h of deprivation, many membranous residual bodies were noted within the starved HeLa cells. EM studies indicated that complete deprivation of serum and amino acids provides a useful model for the further study of cellular autophagocytosis.