Figure 4

Effects of chemotherapeutic drug treatment on the morphology of TS. TS were fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, postfixed in osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol, treated with propylene oxide and embedded in Spurr's epoxy resin. Sections were cut at 1 μm thick and stained with Azure A. Images are representative of the typical appearance. The scale bar represents 10 μm. (A) Untreated TS^P showing a number of mitotic cells (arrows). (B) Untreated TS^Q consisting of interphase cells with very few mitotic or apoptotic cells. (C) TS^P treated with cisplatin (3 μ M) for 48 h showing a number of apoptotic bodies (arrows). (D) TS^Q treated with cisplatin (3 μ M) for 48 h showing little evidence of apoptosis. (E) The number of mitotic cells (black bars) and apoptotic bodies (white bars) expressed as a mean per spheroid section for TS^P and TS^Q. (F) The number of apoptotic bodies in TS^P and TS^Q treated with doxorubicin (black bars), vinblastine (white bars) and cisplatin (lined bars) expressed as a mean per spheroid section.