Sodium-induced changes in the nuclei of monolayer HeLa cultures.

In HeLa cells cultured in a medium containing 142 mequiv./l. sodium ions only the mitotic forms are birefringent (anisotropic index, 27/1000). In a culture medium containing 155-160 mequiv./l. sodium ions, large numbers of nuclear forms reminiscent of the prophase were found. In such a medium the anisotropic index was 86/1000. At low sodium ion concentration (90-110 mequiv./l.) these anomalous, prophase-like forms were not seen and the anisotropic index was 18/1000. The appearance of the birefringent, prophase-like forms is related to a structural rearrangement and condensation of DNP in a hypertonic medium.