ASSAY OF FREE-RADICAL TOXICITY AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT ON THE HEP 3B CELL-LINE - A TEST SURVEY USING LINDANE

The content of reduced glutathione and of glutathione disulfide as wel l as the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferases, catalase and superoxide dismutases were de termined in human hepatoma Hep 3B cells in relation to free-radical to xicity in order to appreciate the defense capacities of these cells co mpared to data on normal hepatocytes. When Hep 3B cells were exposed t o lindane, a known inducer of free-radical production, superoxide dism utase activity appeared as the best-adapted cellular parameter for ear ly detection of the resulting free-radical toxicity.