Effects of high pressure and vanadium on cell growth

We have investigated the effects on cultured cells of high pressure separately and combined with vanadate. Growth of Chinese hamster ovary cells was reduced at pressure above 75 bar; the reduction was 31.6% at 185 bar. Vanadate inhibited cell growth at 5 microM and abolished growth at 100 microM. Combined exposure to vanadate and high pressure changed the toxicity of vanadate: at 5 microM, the toxicity decreased for pressure up to 100 bar; above 100 bar, 5 microM vanadate was more toxic to the cells than at normobaric pressure.