COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF DETERMINING CELL VIABILITY AFTER EXPOSURE TO CYTOTOXIC COMPOUNDS

Cell-survival (of DON [Chinese hamster] and L1210 [mouse leukemia] cells) after treatment with cytotoxic compounds was assessed by measuring cloning efficiency, exclusion of trypan blue and erythrosin B, [51Cr] release and attachment of DON cells to glass. Cell survival as measured by cloning efficiency did not correlate with survival measured by any of the other methods. The stainability of cells after drug exposure depended on the cell line used. After 3 h exposure to tubercidin, although 100% of DON and L1210 cells were killed (on basis of cloning efficiency), only 11% of DON cells and 68% of L1210 cells were dead as indicated by staining with erythrosin B. The stainability of cells also depended on the particular drug used. After 24 h exposure of L1210 cells to adriamycin and tubercidin (both killed > 99% of cells on basis of cloning efficiency) 21% of cells exposed to adriamycin and 99% of cells exposed to tubercidin were stained. The results obtained with several other cytotoxic compounds are discussed.