Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Diazepam induces mitotic arrest at prometaphase by inhibiting centriolar separation

Abstract

We report here that we have found an accumulation of condensed mitotic figures in cultures of various human haematopoietic cell lines treated with diazepam (40–80 µg ml−1). The mode of mitosis arresting activity of diazepam was analysed with cultured human fibroblasts. Unlike conventional anti-mitotic drugs, diazepam did not affect the microtubular integrity at the concentrations used. Instead, it seems to block mitosis by inhibiting the deviation of centrioles in the prometaphase.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersson, L. C. & Gahmberg, C. G. Proc. 3rd Bristol-Myers Symp. Cancer Res., 1981 (in the press).

  2. McIntosh, J. R. in Microtubules (eds Roberts, K. & Hyams, J. S.) 315–358 (Academic, London, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cande, W. Z., Lazarides, E. & McIntosh, J. R. J. Cell Biol. 72, 552–567 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Clarke, G. D. & Ryan, P. J. Nature 287, 160–161 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Aubin, J., Osborn, M. & Weber, K. J. Cell Sci. 43, 177–194 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Badley, R. A. et al. Expl Cell Res. 117, 231–244 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Virtanen, I., Lehto, V.-P., Lehtonen, E. & Badley, R. A. Eur. J. cell. Biol. 23, 80–84 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Russell, W. C., Newman, C. & Williamson, D. H. Nature 253, 461–462 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andersson, L., Lehto, VP., Stenman, S. et al. Diazepam induces mitotic arrest at prometaphase by inhibiting centriolar separation. Nature 291, 247–248 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291247a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291247a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing