The relationship between cell proliferation and phosphatidylinositol metabolism in skeletal muscle cells in culture.

Effects of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (1 X 10(-4) M) and lithium chloride (10 mM) on the cell proliferation and phosphatidylinositol metabolism of L6 myoblasts were examined. gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane (inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol synthesis) and LiCl (inhibitor of inositol 1-phosphatase) treatment of these cells resulted in the loss of their proliferative properties. Coordinate with effects on cell proliferation, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane and LiCl also reduced the levels of phosphatidylinositols and their water-soluble metabolites. However, the protein content of treated cells was higher than control cells. Gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane and LiCl treatment of cells reduced DNA synthesis by about 50% over control values. It was, therefore, concluded that there appears to be a direct relationship between L6 myoblast proliferation and phosphatidylinositol metabolism.