[Toxic action of lindane. Biochemical and ultrastructural changes in the lysosome system in cultured hepatocytes]

Lindane, in contact with cultured foetal chicken liver cells over a period of 40 hours, has a biphasic action on the lysosomal system of the cells. For the concentrations between 1 micronM and 25 micronM not affecting the cellular growth, the decrease of the acid phosphatase activity and the absence of any reaction in the Golgi saccules might indicate a reduction in the synthesis of the lysosomal enzyme. For the concentrations above 25 micronM slowing down cellular growth, acid phosphatase activity is partialrogeneous content and an increase in the relative acid phosphatase activity in the soluble extralysosomal fraction, for doses over 150 micronM, might indicate the development of the phenomenon of autophagocytosis.