Micronuclei-bearing cells frequently underwent apoptosis but not multipolar mitosis.

By examining more than 20 time-lapse movies, each of which captured more than 20 cells for over 48 hours, we followed the interphase cells bearing micronuclei and/or nuclear buds, and counted the frequency of cells that underwent apoptosis until they entered the next M phase (A) or the frequency of cells that underwent multipolar mitoses (B). The cells frequently underwent apoptosis if they contained micronuclei, buds, or especially both (A). However, the frequency of multipolar mitoses was similar between the cells with or without micronuclei or buds (B).