SEVERE DAMAGE OF CULTURED VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELL MONOLAYER AFTER SIMULTANEOUS EXPOSURE TO CADMIUM AND LEAD

This study evaluates the toxicity of lead in the presence or absence o f cadmium on the maintenance of a monolayer of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. It was histologically shown that lead at 50 mu M or less induced a slight formation of de-endothelialized areas on the mo nolayer after a 24-h incubation. Although lead accumulated in endothel ial cells in a dose-dependent manner, the cytotoxicity (evaluated by t he [H-3]adenine release assay) was not detected. However, cadmium (1.0 or 2.0 mu M)-induced de-endothelialized areas on the monolayer was co nsiderably larger in the presence of lead at 10 mu M; the cytotoxicity of cadmium was significantly enhanced by lead. It was concluded that vascular endothelial cell monolayer is severely destroyed by a greater cytotoxicity of combination of cadmium with lead.