1982 Volume 7 Issue 3 Pages 205-218
Knowledges on the characteristics in toxicity of methylmercuric chloride (MMC), obtained in the present series of experiments in vitro, would be summarized as follows: (1) No appreciable cell-phase-specific age-response to MMC through the cell cycle of JTC-11 line of cells in vitro was shown. Cytolethal sensitivity of the mitotic cells to MMC was equal to that of the exponentially growing cells. (2) Culture media were prepared in graded concentrations of serum proteins and the various albumin/globulin ratios. Cytolethal toxicity of MMC in the graded treatment periods and concentrations was assayed in the prepared media. The apparent MMC toxicity was decreased both by albumin and by globulin. The both serum proteins appeared to be cytoprotective from MMC toxicity. In culture medium containing albumin, or inactivated bovine whole serum, the cytolethal toxicity of MMC was not observed in the MMC treatment concentrations below 0.5 μg/ml, but it was observed for any MMC treatment periods in the any concentrations above 0.5 μg/ml. Increases in the concentrations of either albumin or globulin, or the both, correlated with the decrease of MMC toxicity. (3) MMC uptake to the given number of cells was measured and decreased MMC uptake of cells in the medium containing serum protein, compared with that in the serum-protein-free medium, was obtained. Rapid transfer of MMC from the cells to the MMC free medium was observed during the first 30 min after the MMC treatment, which was followed by a slower exponential regression of MMC content of the cells during the successive incubation in the MMC free growth medium.
