Morphological characterisation of BGM (Buffalo Green Monkey) cell line exposed to low doses of cadmium chloride

Morphological changes in the Buffalo Green Monkey (BGM) cell line after exposure to a subcytotoxic dose (0.062 mm, equivalent to EC10-effective concentration 10%) of cadmium chloride have been evaluated. Cells were exposed for 24 h and the effects observed at the ultrastructural level by transmission and scanning microscopy. Using transmission electron microscopy, the most notable findings in treated cells were the presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies and thin intracytoplasmic granules associated to myelin figures and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Other morphological alterations included cell vacuolisation and a reduced cytoplasm volume, condensation of the mitochondria and a decreased number of cytoplasmic organelles, except lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles, which increased in number. Scanning electron microscopy pointed to a cell with a disrupted perinuclear region and a decrease in the number of surface microvilli. We conclude that the BGM cell line may be considered an useful tool for toxicological studies involving cadmium. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.