Effects of mercuric chloride on the membrane integrity of cultured cell lines

The effects of mercuric chloride on the membrane integrity of neuronal (N1E115), glial (138MG), muscle (L6) and liver (BRL123) cells in culture were studied. Alterations in passive membrane permeability were investigated in a perfusion system by following the efflux of radioactivity from cells preloaded with tritiated 2-deoxy-D-glucose. The efflux increased rapidly in the presence of a low concentration of HgCl2 (10(-5) M). The cell lines exhibited differential sensitivity to HgCl2 in the following order: BRL greater than L6 greater than N1E115 greater than 138MG. This differential sensitivity was confirmed by the alterations in the structure of the cell surfaces as observed in the scanning electron microscope. It is suggested that 2-deoxy-D-[3H]glucose may be a suitable probe in studies of membrane lesions caused by toxic substances.