MITOTIC INDIRECT NONDISJUNCTION IN PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ-STIMULATED HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES

In a previous publication we demonstrated that in cells of Vicia faba micronuclei derived from whole lagging chromosomes or chromatids may perform DNA synthesis and mitotic condensation in synchrony with main nuclei and be regained by main nuclei at the next mitosis, giving rise to trisomic cells together with diploids. This process was called 'mitotic indirect non-disjunction' (MIND). In the present work the occurrence of MIND was studied in human lymphocytes cultivated in vitro. Human lymphocytes were treated with low colcemid concentrations until fixation; BrUdR was supplied together with colcemid to distinguish the number of mitoses performed by the cells (M(1), M(2) and M(3) cells). The frequencies of M(1) ana-telophases,vith single lagging chromosomes/chromatids and of M(2)(+) prophases with single micronuclei in synchronous motitic condensation with main nuclei were evaluated. On this basis the expected frequencies of both monosomic and trisomic M(2) cells were calculated, according to the hypothesis of MIND. Their observed frequencies were very close to those expected. These results support the hypothesis of the occurrence of MIND in human lymphocytes.