Cysteamine rapidly decreases mitotic cells in random culture of Hela S-3 cells.

Mitotic cells disappeared nearly completely within 60 min after the addition of 30 mM cysteamine in HeLa S-3 cell culture, while the control culture contained mitotic cells with the frequency of 3.4%. Inhibition of mitosis became gradually irreversible when the treatment was extended over 60 min, but cytolysis occurred much more slowly. Ethanolamine exhibited a similar but much less significant effect.