[Yeast cell ultrastructure after amiodarone treatment]

[Amiodarone is used as a pharmaceutical substance for treating a number of diseases. However it is known that structural and functional disturbances are caused by amiodarone in patient's tissues. Here particular features of amiodarone effect are studied in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where amiodarone was shown to cause apoptosis. Electron-microscopic study of yeast cells after amiodarone treatment reveals a significant increase in lipid particle number which can lead to formation of a structural complex by interacting with membranous organelles of a cell. Amiodarone causes the appearance of small and separated slightly swollen mitochondria. Chro-matin displacement to the periphery of nucleus, nuclear sectioning and nuclear envelope disturbances are observed in the cells under these conditions. The detected cell ultrastructure alterations in the S. cerevisiae are considered to be specific response to the phospholipidosis and apoptosis caused by amiodarone.