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The effects of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, melatonin, and their combined use on proliferative activity, changes in cytosolic Ca2+, membrane potential, and production of reactive oxygen species in the culture of mouse N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells (clone C-1300) were studied. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and melatonin have been shown to inhibit proliferation and enhance cell differentiation. At the same time, the content of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased, while the content of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax increased, which might suggest the launch of an apoptotic cascade. However, the use of these two drugs together did not enhance the observed effects. Apparently, the mechanisms by which diethyldithiocarbamates and melatonin acted on cells were different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]