Abstract
In order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of lead in cultures of Balb/c mouse 3T3 cell line, various cytotoxic assays were carried out after expose cells to various concentrations of lead nitrate. Cytotoxic assays using this study were included NR assay, MTT assay, measurement of LDH and protein, synthetic rate of DNA and UDS. Intrace!!ular Ca$^{2+}$ level was also measured. Light and electron microscopic studies were done for morphological changes of lead-treated cell cultures. The results were as follows; 1. The absorbances of NR and MTT were decreased dose-dependently, and NR, and MTT, values of lead nitrate were 3.4 mM and 1.5 mM, respectively. 2. Amount of LDH released into the medium was increased in dose-dependently and LDH activity at 5 mM concentration of lead nitrate was increased to 335 % of control. 3. Amount of total protein was decreased dose-dependently, and which was half of control at 2 mM concentration of lead nitrate. 4. The synthetic rate of DNA was decreased dose-dependently, and also which was remarkably decreased at 3 mM and 5 mM concentrations of lead nitrate. 5. The synthetic rate of UDS was increased at 1 mM concentration of lead nitrate, but which was remarkably decreased at 3 mM and 5 mM concentrations of lead nitrate. 6. Intrace!lular Ca$^{2+}$ level was remarkably increased at 1 mM concentration of lead nitrate, compared with control. 7. In light microscopy, number of cells and processes were decreased according to the increase of dosage of lead nitrate. Electron microscopic findings showed that many vacuoles and cisternal dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum were seen in the cytoplasm at 1 mM concentration of lead nittale. From the above results, high dosage treatment of lead nitrate (>3 mM) damaged genetic malerials and it also showed cytotoxicity in mouse 3T3 cell line cultures by injury of cell organelles and Ca$^{2+}$ channel.
