Effects of Deuterium Oxide on Cell Cycle and Vesicle Speed in RBL-2H3 Cells

Abstract

For the first time we show the effects of deuterium oxide on the cell cycle and vesicle transport in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. RBL-2H3 cultured with 15 moles/L deuterium oxide were observed to halt near the G2-M-phase of the cell cycle. Experimental observations also showed an increase in vesicle speed. This increase in vesicle speed was not observed in cultures treated with a microtubule-destabilizing drug suggesting that deuterium oxide affects microtubule-dependent vesicle transport.