Detection of Heavy Metal Toxicity by Cell Culture Method (1)

Abstract

Animal test is usually employed to examine the toxicities of heavy metals. In this study, however, we used cell culture method together with the animal test to compare the results.In the cell culture, choice of cell strain is very important. In the following experiments, we used Chang's liver cells.In the animal test, metals can be classified toxicologically into two groups: the first group is harmless to the animal body (for instance, sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium), and the second group is the body cell poison that shows acute or chronic toxicity (cadmium, mercury, chromium and arsenic).In the cell culture, sodium, calcium, potassium or magnesium is harmless to the cell growth, and inhibitory effect of cadmium, mercury, chromium or arsenic was observed.According to the foregoing results, toxicity of heavy metals in the cell culture showed the same result obtained in the animal test.It is concluded that the animal test takes a long period of time as well as greater labor and cost. We prefer the cell culture method, which provides results that are quite similar to the animal test and at the same time it can save cost, time and labor.