[Centriolar complex in somatic cell hybrids (mouse X Chinese hamster)]

The ultrastructure of centriolar complex in interphase cells and in for a long time dividing somatic hybrid cells (mouse X Chinese hamster) has been investigated. It was found that in the majority of hybrid cells (about 80%) the centriolar complex consists of a higher quantity of centrioles than in the parent cells; the fine structure of the centriolar complex has features characteristic of the centrioles of both the parents; the numerous centrioles have a capacity of organizing individual poles of the spindle of division to constitute the ground for multipolar mitosis in the hybrid cells. Besides that, hybrid cells were found with the centriole number corresponding to that in diploid cells. According to our preliminary data, the ultrastructure of these hybrid centrioles is like that in murine cells.