Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro
Published on: January 31, 2022
Does streptozotocin [STZ] exert an influence on rat hepatoma H35-19 cell line?
Wojciech Dabroś1, Andrzej Klein, Barbara Tatar
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University, Kraków. mpdabros@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Abstract:
The authors investigated the effect of streptozotocin (STZ) in low--micromoles (up to 500 microM)--or higher --millimoles (1-10 mM)--concentrations in culture media of the H35-19 cell line. Up to 500 microM, STZ did not show any cytotoxic or cytostatic action in the investigated cells; on the contrary, it triggered an "improved growth" of these cells, as an antibiotic effect of the drug was observed. The concentration of 1-10 mmoles of STZ in the medium inhibited proliferation and viability of the studied cells. This action depended (proportionally) on drug concentration and time (up to 72 h) of experiment. Statistical analysis of the results obtained by four methods: staining with MTT, neutral red (NR) or crystal violet (CV) and Biirker chamber counting (BC), demonstrated no significant difference in STZ impact between 48 h and 72 h of incubation, according to the Benferoni post-hock test. The results obtained by MTT showed an extremely high statistical significance (p<0.001) of the effect of concentration on the results, with a non-significant interaction (p=0.2236) and general time effect (p=0.3600). An extremely significant (p<0.001) interaction of the effect of time and concentration was observed in the results obtained by neutral red method, whereas a significant effect of general time and concentration was also observed, but according to [17] it is difficult to explain. The results obtained by crystal violet staining showed a highly statistical significance (p<0.001) in time and concentration effect on the data, without a significant interaction between the above-mentioned factors (p>0.05). Cell counting in a Biirker chamber demonstrated a highly significant time and concentration effect on the results, but the interaction was mildly significant (0.01
Insights
Streptozotocin (STZ) at low micromolar concentrations enhanced H35-19 cell growth, acting like an antibiotic. Higher millimolar concentrations of STZ inhibited cell proliferation and viability, with effects dependent on concentration and time.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Streptozotocin (STZ) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent.
- Its effects on cell lines at varying concentrations require detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dose-dependent effects of streptozotocin (STZ) on the H35-19 cell line.
- To determine the cytotoxic and cytostatic thresholds of STZ in this cell model.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of H35-19 cells to STZ at concentrations ranging from micromolar to millimolar.
- Assessment of cell viability and proliferation using MTT, neutral red, crystal violet staining, and cell counting.
- Statistical analysis including Benferoni post-hoc test.
Main Results:
- Low micromolar STZ concentrations (up to 500 microM) exhibited an
- improved growth
- effect, suggesting antibiotic properties.
- Millimolar STZ concentrations (1-10 mM) significantly inhibited cell proliferation and viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- Maximum inhibitory effect was observed at 48 hours with 10 mM STZ, with cell death primarily occurring via necrosis.
Conclusions:
- STZ exhibits dual effects on H35-19 cells: growth promotion at low doses and growth inhibition/cytotoxicity at higher doses.
- The study quantifies the concentration and time-dependent cytotoxic effects of STZ, identifying key parameters for its inhibitory action.
- Necrosis is identified as the primary mode of cell death induced by millimolar STZ concentrations.
