title: Indium inhibits gap junctional communication between rat hepatocytes in primary culture.
abstract: The effect of indium on gap junctional communication was investigated in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Treatment of hepatocytes with indium chloride at concentrations of 100 microM to 1 mM for 2 h resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of gap junctional communication between hepatocytes. The effect of indium on hepatocytes was also evaluated using two indices for cell viability: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction. Indium did not cause any increase in LDH leakage from hepatocytes at the above concentrations, but inhibition of MTT reduction was observed at concentrations above 500 microM. These results suggest that the gap junctions between hepatocytes may be vulnerable sites to indium toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Hygienic Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: X B
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawanishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunouchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007204:Indium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D007204:Indium; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C022616:thiazolyl blue