A Comparative Study of the Effects of Carbon Tetrachloride on Neurons, Astrocytes and Hepatocytes

Abstract

The effects of carbon tetrachloride (CC14) on lipid peroxidation and respiratory activity in central nervous system (CNS) cells (neurons and astrocytes) have been studied and compared with effects on hepatocytes.Cell cultures of neurons, astrocytes and hepatocytes were prepared from 8-, 14- and 15-day-old chick embryos, respectively. After appropriate intervals, each type of culture was exposed to 0, 2, 3 and 4mM CC14in a closed-chamber system for 30 or 60 minutes.The neurons, in contrast to both the astrocytes and the hepatocytes, showed a concentration-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment of astrocyte and hepatocyte cultures with phenobarbital did not increase the degree of lipid peroxidation in these cells. Also, according to protein content, the neuron cultures appeared to be the most sensitive. Respiratory activity was drastically inhibited (70%) in the hepatocyte cultures and slightly inhibited (30–35%) in the CNS cell cultures, after exposure for 60 minutes to 2mM CC14.