DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE ON THE CELL-MEMBRANES OF NEURONS AND ASTROCYTES

Primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes from chick embryos were used to study the effect of CCl4 on the plasma membranes. The cultures were exposed to 1, 1, 2, 3 or 4 mM CCl4 in a closed chamber system for 30 or 60 minutes. The effects of the exposure were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy and by measuring the degree of lipid peroxidation. In neuron cultures the presence of 1 mM CCl4 for 60 min caused holes in the plasma membranes and led to a swelling of the cell bodies. At 4 mM CCl4 the membranes were totally destroyed, leaving cytoskeletal elements visible. In astrocyte cultures, on the other hand, no effects up to 2 mM were observed. At 4 mM some cells had rounded up, but the membranes were still intact. These data correspond very well with the results that neurons, in contrast to astrocytes, show a concentration-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation. The results from this study may indicate that the mechanism of action of CCl4 is different in neurons and astrocytes. © 1990.