The effects of sublethal sonication on short-term lymphocyte cultures were determined and compared to effects of phytohemagglutinin on similar cultures. Cells stimulated by sonication or PHA showed similar blastoid alteration, similar subtleties of trypan blue staining during the first three days of culture, and similar lysosomal patterns in the altered cells. However, cells from sonicated cultures did not display DNA or RNA synthesis rates above those seen in control cultures. In addition, trypan blue staining characteristics indicated a temporarily reversible injury in PHA stimulated cells, but not in sonicated cells.

These studies support the concept that blast-like transformation of lymphocytes is related to cell damage and possibly to subsequent increase in size and activity of lysosomes.

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© 1969 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1969
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