Figure 10

Transmission electron microscopy of exposed HeLa cells. (ai) HeLa cell exposed to the DMSO vehicle control which demonstrated a smooth well-defined cell membrane with normal cell protrusions, as well as an intact nuclear membrane. Organelles such as mitochondria are identifiable (scale bar: 10 μm). (aii) Representative image of the cell membrane showing normal cellular protrusions (scale bar: 2 μm). (bi) HeLa cell after exposure to tamoxifen (positive autophagy control). Cells displayed vacuolar structures, although the cell membrane, nucleolus and nuclear membrane remained intact. (bii) Representative image of a vacuolar structure (scale bars represent 5 μm in (bi) and 0.5 μm in (bii)). Figure (ci) and (cii) are representative images of actinomycin D-exposed cells showing apoptotic bodies, pyknosis and an increase in the number of cellular membrane protrusions. The nuclear membrane is absent (scale bars: 5 μm in (ci) and 2 μm in (cii)). Images (di) and (dii) of ESE-16-treated cells showed the presence of vacuolar structures (similar to the tamoxifen control), apoptotic bodies, nuclear condensation, increased membrane protrusions and absence of the nuclear membrane demonstrating a cell in distress (scale bars: 5 μm (di) and 2 μm (dii) respectively). (Arrow colour key: orange = nucleoli; red = nuclear membrane; blue = vacuolar structures; yellow = pyknosis; white = apoptotic bodies).