Effect of heavy metals on cellular growth, metabolism and integrity of cultured Chinese hamster kidney cells

Abstract

1. The effects of CdCl₂, Na₂CrO₄, NaAsO₂ and NiSO₄ on cultured Chinese hamster kidney cells were studied over a concentration range for 48 h.

2. Release of lactate dehydrogenase, a parameter of cell viability, was not closely related to cell proliferation except for Na₂CrO₄. A better correlation was obtained between glucose consumption and lactate production, and cellular growth.

3. When studying toxic effects of metals in cell-culture systems, metabolic parameters should be determined in addition to cell viability and cellular growth.

4. The results indicate that Chinese hamster kidney cells in culture might be useful to study mechanisms of metal-induced toxicity.