title: Inhibition of cell proliferation by glycerol.
abstract: The effect of glycerol on proliferation of BHK, CHO, HBL, MCF-7, and human glioma cells was studied. Cell proliferation was significantly decreased in all the cell lines at glycerol concentrations of 2-4% in the culture medium. The inhibition was dose-dependent, complete suppression of proliferation occurring at a glycerol concentration of 4% for the MCF-7 cell line and 6-8% for the BHK, CHO and human glioma cells. Studies on [3H]thymidine incorporation correlate with the effect on cell proliferation. The viability of the cells was not significantly affected until higher concentrations of glycerol (12% +) were present. Recovery studies with BHK cells indicated that replacement of the glycerol medium with glycerol-free medium resulted in full recovery following exposure to 4% glycerol and only partial recovery (65%) of proliferation rate following exposure to 10-12% glycerol. It is concluded that glycerol, a substance that is normally present in tissues, can serve as a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wiebe
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dinsdale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol; D013936:Thymidine