Fig. 11

Possible pathway of degeneration and detachment from the substrate of polyploid cells. Phase contrast micrographs of PEG-treated NIHs cells. The images refer to the possible progression steps (a, b, c, d, e) of degenerative events in polyploid/aneuploid cells, resulting in detachment from the growth substrate. In a, middle/large cells with an intense cellular granularity (that correlates with the high degree of autophagic vacuolations detected in this type of cell through TEM microscopy) are visible. In b, it is possible to observe the cytoplasm restricted to a thin network supported by subtle and long cytoplasmic expansions. This aspect could be the possible consequence of drastic cytoplasmic remodeling partly due to self-digestive cytoplasmic events. In the final stages of the process, these cells, which would acquire a neuron-like morphology (d), can retract their cytoplasmic extensions by detaching from the substrate and assuming an apoptotic-like morphology (e). In f, a detail of a neuron-like cell is reported: the arrows indicate possible budding events on thin extensions with the release of daughter cells with low ploidy levels. Scale bars in a, b, c, d, and e: 15 µm; in f: 30 µm