Research Communication ß-Carotene Alters the Morphology of NCI-H69 Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells1 Pankaj Prakash*2, Thomas G. Manfredi, Cynthia L. Jackson** and Leonard E. Gerber* Departments of * Food Science and Nutrition and Exercise Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881 and the ** Department of Pathology, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University, Providence, RI 02903 2To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: pprakash__mail@yahoo.com The effect of ß-carotene on the morphology of NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells that had undergone ß-carotene-induced growth reduction (P < 0.05) was examined. The cells were grown at 1 x 108 cells/L and were cultured with or without 20 µmol/L ß-carotene. The qualitative electron microscopic observations revealed that ß-carotene-treated cells contained more vacuoles than control cells not treated with ß-carotene. The quantitative image analysis showed a significantly smaller (P < 0.05) value of the nuclear roundness factor for treated cells compared with control cells, indicating an irregular nuclear morphology of ß-carotene-treated cells. The major diameter of the cells and the minor diameter of the nuclei were significantly smaller (P < 0.05), and the nuclear perimeter was significantly larger (P < 0.05) in ß-carotene-treated cells. The ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm was significantly less (P < 0.05) in ß-carotene-treated cells compared with control cells, indicating a less malignant growth of the cells. These results demonstrate that the treatment of small cell lung cancer cells with ß-carotene induces morphological changes in the cells concomitant with a reduction in their proliferation. Further investigation is required to show a direct effect of ß-carotene or its intracellular polar metabolites on the morphology of these cells. © 2002 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 132:121-124, 2002 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.