Nocodazole and cytochalasin D induce tetraploidy in mammalian cells.

Nocodazole, a rapidly reversible inhibitor of microtubule assembly is useful for preparing mammalian cells synchronized at all stages of mitosis. When synchronized cells are allowed to progress through mitosis in the presence of cytochalasin D, the cleavage furrow is inhibited and dikaryon cells are formed. These cells become homogeneous populations of stable mononuclear tetraploid cells after the following cell division. This procedure is applicable to a wide range of mammalian cells in culture.