Altering the vector of polarity of BHK syncytia changes their motile behavior

We have previously shown that BHK syncytia have the ability to locomote provided the centrospheres are clustered and located adjacent to the cluster of nuclei. This article reports that experimental reorganizations of the centrospheres or the nuclei change the motile behavior of BHK syncytia in a way that is consistent with our previous observations: When fusion of the multiple nuclei occurred in stationary syncytia whose multiple nuclei encircled the centrosphere cluster, the centrospheres were expelled from the ring of nuclei. Consequently, locomotion was initiated in these syncytia even if they had been previously stationary for up to 5 days. Conversely, when a 2-hour incubation in 5 micrograms/ml cytocholasin B caused the cluster of nuclei to surround the centrosphere cluster, the locomotion of the syncytia was inhibited. Similarly, the dispersal of the centrosphere cluster induced by a 4-hour incubation in 1 microgram/ml of colcemid resulted in the long-term cessation of locomotion in motile syncytia.