[Cellular homeostasis and trace elements]

The authors consider the relevance of essential and toxic elements to the maintenance and derangement of cellular homeostasis, review different routes of their introduction in and release from varying cell types as well as relationships with specific ligands, distribution by intracellular pools. Presented are also morphological data on trace elements accumulation in cell, organs and compartments. A number of trace elements contributed to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis while the others demonstrate anticarcinogenic and antiblastic action.