2010 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 119-128
In this study, the effects of a dynamic strain in the cytotoxicity and mortality of the PC12 cell line were evaluated by using impact experiment with huge acceleration. In order to consider the influence of axonal damage on nerve cells, 2 types of nerve cells were used for the impact experiments, i.e. with and without axons. The cytotoxicity and mortality of cells were evaluated by the input acceleration, strain and strain rate and the strain rate seemed to be the most appropriate to evaluate the cytotoxicity and mortality of cells. Cells with axons showed higher cytotoxicity and mortality than cells without axons, when the strain rate was larger than 13.11 (1/s). Damage to axons was confirmed by terminal swellings and beadings of the axons. These data indicated that the presence of axons increased the cytotoxicity and mortality of cells.
