Study on Cytotoxicity of Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde by Phase Contrast Microscopy

Abstract

Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were tested for their cytotoxic effect on a HeLa cell tissue culture system. Serial dilutions of the medicament were made in concentrations of 1 : 100, 1 : 10, 000 and 1 : 1, 000, 000. The tissue cells were exposed to the various dilutions of the medicaments for 24 and 48 hours. Their effects on the cells were observed by phase contrast microscopy. Both of the medicaments were extremely toxic to the tissue culture cells even when their concentration was in a dilution of 1 : 10, 000, and were insignificantly toxic when in a 1 : 1, 000, 000. The cells were conspicuously destructed at 1 : 10, 000 dilutions, whereas they were kept less transformed at 1 : 100.