The effect of hexamethylene-bis-acetamide on multiparameter analysis of Friend leukemia cells

Friend leukemia cells were induced to differentiate by hexamethylene-bis-acetamide (HMBA). The relationship between cell growth cell volume distribution, fluorescence intensity and fluorescence anisotropy of the membrane probe 1,6 diphenyl 1,3,5 hexatriene (DPH) was analyzed in differentiated and undifferentiated cells with the aid of the fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS II). The induction of a differentiated state was associated with a decrease in cell volume and an increase of fluorescence anisotrophy. The inhibition of this induction by dexamethasone prevented the decrease of cell volume without affecting the increase of fluorescence anisotropy. We conclude therefore that the high degree of anisotropy is not correlated to the differentiated state nor with the volume of the cells.