Effect of Diquat Macromolecule Pneumocytes on Cell Growth and Synthesis in Cultured

SAITO, K. Effects of Diquat on Cell Growth; and Macromolecule Synthesis in Cultured Pneumocytes. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1986, 148 (1), 35-39 The effects of diquat (DQ) on cell growth and macromolecule synthesis were investigated in cultured rat, feline and human. pneumocytes. DQ at 10-3 M and 10-5 M showed timeand dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth for 7 days. The incorporation of 3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine and 14C-leucine into DNA, RNA and protein was reduced to 0-47% by 10-3 M of DQ, and that of 14C-leucine into protein of A-549 cells was reduced to 67% by 10-5 M of DQ. Among the cells examined, A-549 cells derived from human lung were the most resistant to the inhibitory effects of DQ on cell growth and macromolecule synthesis. On the other hand, human lung embryonic fibroblast cells and L-2 cells derived from rat lung were the most sensitive to the toxicity of DQ. These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of DQ on cell growth and on macromolecule synthesis are dependent on the concentrations of DQ administrated, and that species differences in the sensitivity to DQ toxicity may exist. diquat ; pneumocytes ; DNA ; RNA ; protein