COMPARISON OF CADMIUM CYTOTOXICITY IN HUMAN VERSUS RAT NASAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS INVITRO

Differences in the sensitivity of human and Fischer 344 rat tissues to cadmium sulphate (CdSO4) toxicity were investigated in an in vitro model using human and rat nasal turbinate epithelial (NTE) cells. Both rat and human NTE cells were obtained from fresh, normal tissue. Methods were developed for isolating and culturing NTE cells from rat and human tissue using identical procedures, and for measuring the cellular nucleotides by high-performance liquid chromatography. Changes in adenylate energy charge and nucleotide levels were used as toxicity endpoints. Cellular Cd levels were measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and expressed per unit DNA. Cd uptake was significantly greater in human NTE cells than in rat cells, particularly at the highest exposure concentration (4.8 mm-CdSO4). The effects of CdSO4 on the adenylate energy charge of human and rat NTE cells were similar except at high exposure concentrations and after long exposure times; after a 2-4-hr exposure to 4.8 mm CdSO4 the adenylate energy charge of human cells was significantly less than that of the rat cells. © 1990.