Cytotoxicity of Ni ions were examined using C3H mouse derived 10T1/2 fibrob
last cells. It became evident that Ni ions had dose-dependent cytotoxicity.
The cell number incubated in DME medium containing 0.04 mM/L Ni ion for 6
days was reduced to half that in control DME medium without Ni. The cell to
tally disappeared in DME medium containing 2 mM/L Ni ion. The dissolution o
f Ni ions from Ni-containing metallic restorations must be lower than these
concentration levels so that oral tissues might not be damaged. No neoplas
tic transformation was found on all cells examined.