The biological effects of organometals are of great concern because of
their toxic effects. Organotin and -lead compounds are known to be hi
ghly neurotoxic but the molecular mechanisms by which such substances
act are only poorly understood. We investigated the effects of five di
fferent organometals [trimethyllead (Me3Pb+), triethyllead (Et3Pb+), t
riphenyllead (Ph3Pb+), dibutyltin (But(2)Sn(2+)) and trimethyltin (Me3
Sn+)] on cytoskeletal structure as well as on cell cycle distribution
and proliferation of cells in culture. Normal rat kidney cells (NRK) n
ormally express so-called stress fibers of actin filaments. These fibe
rs, visualized by rhodamine-phalloidin staining, were monomerized by a
ll compounds in a concentration dependent manner. The influence on the
cytoskeleton suggested that an alteration of cell cycle distribution
and/or proliferation may be likely. However, not all tested compounds
exerted an effect on these parameters. Whereas Me?Pbf and Et Pbf block
ed cell division of undifferentiated HL-60 cells leading to an increas
e in G(2)/mitosis, Ph3Pb+ has not such an effect. Out of the tin compo
unds, only Me3Sn+ induced alterations on the cell cycle by increasing
the cell number within G(1)-phase. The differences in the action of th
e organometals may be due to the very low concentrations that have to
be used for long-term incubations during cell cycle investigations.