Cell injury and calcium accumulation following sulfur mustard exposure

Abstract

Cellular injury, irrespective of causative agents, is associated with a change in the transmembrane potential for calcium with subsequent accumulations of calcium to intracellular domains. At this time however, the association of sulfur mustard (HD)-induced cytotoxicity and calcium metabolism remains at controversy. This study correlates the ultrastructural cytopathology, cytochemical localization and x-ray microanalysis of calcium in cultured cells exposed to HD in vitro.NG108-15 and HeLa cells, exposed to 300 and 500 ¼M HD respectively and harvested at 1 to 24h post exposure, were fixed in 1.6% formaldehyde and 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 3 h at 4°C and processed for routine ultrastructural evaluation. Replicate populations were cytochemically processed for precipitation of calcium by incubating in a medium of 2% potassium pyroantimonate and 1% osmium tetroxide for 90 min in the dark at 20°C. Cells were then placed in a secondary medium of 0.5% tannic acid for 15 min, rinsed in 1% sodium sulfate, dehydrated in graded ethanols and embedded in epoxy resin.