Abstract
The acute effects of inorganic lead salts on mammalian cells in vitro were investigated using L-A cells, a subline of L 929 mouse fibroblasts, HeLa-cells, a human portio-carcinoma line, and human diploid fibroblasts. Lead salts caused a growth inhibition which was independant of the anion employed and could be prevented by the addition of Ca-EDTA. The LC50 was approximately 1 mM when exposing L-A cells for 2 days and 2 × 10−4 M when treating then for 7 days. The release of lactic acid dehydrogenase was not elevated indicating lack of gross membrane damage by lead. Concomitant with the dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation the fraction of cells synthesizing DNA and the mitotic rate were lowered; by cytophotometry a block in the G1 phase of the cell cycle was demonstrated. Energy metabolism appeared affected as evidenced by a rise in lactate production. In HeLa cells and human fibroblasts mitotic aberrations were observed.
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