triethyllead and Glioma

The effect of methyl mercury (MeHg) and triethyllead (Et3Pb) on the membrane bound SH-enzymes Na+K+ATPase and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) was studied in relation to the effect on the galactosyl ceramide sulfotransferase (CST) and to morphological changes in glioma C6 cells. Two-day-old cultures were incubated for 1 or 20 hrs with 5-30 microgram MeHgC1 and 2-8 microgram Et3PbC1/mg cell protein. The results show that both compounds induced morphological changes and a reduction of CST activity at growth inhibitory concentrations. A less marked reduction of Na+K+ATPase was induced with increasing exposure time only in MeHgC1 treated cultures, and PDH activity was not affected by either of the compounds under the experimental conditions. Thus, an interference with Na+K+ATPase and PDH activities do not appear to be a primary effect of MeHg and Et3Pb intoxication.

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Glioma; Lead; Methylmercury Compounds; Neoplasms, Experimental; Organometallic Compounds; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; Rats; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase