Sodium azide induces necrotic cell death in rat squamous cell carcinoma SCC131

Sodium azide (NaN(3)) is widely used in industry and agriculture, and also in laboratories as a potent preservative. NaN(3) induces cell death when applied to cultured cells. However, whether the mode of cell death is apoptosis or necrosis remains a subject of debate. There have been no previous reports on NaN(3)-induced cell death in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and so we studied the mode of cell death induced by NaN(3) using the rat SCC cell line, SCC131. In this experiment, SCC131 cells died 48-72 h after NaN(3) treatment with concentrations greater than 5 mM. The NaN(3) treatment reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and DNA ladder detection assay indicated that no DNA fragmentation occurred. In addition, phosphatidyl serine did not appear on the cell surface, according to the findings of dye-uptake bioassay and flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V labeling. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that the NaN(3)-treated cells showed mitochondrial swelling and rupture of the cell membrane. In conclusion, NaN(3) induces necrotic cell death in SCC131. This experimental model may be used in the study of necrotic cell death.