title: Microcalorimetric study on the toxic effect of Pb2+ to Tetrahymena.
abstract: The toxic effect of Pb2+ has been studied in eukaryotic cells by using Tetrahymena as a target. The maximum power (P(m)) and the growth rate constant (k) were determined, which showed that values of P(m) and k were linked to the concentration (C) of Pb2+. The addition of Pb2+ caused a decrease of the maximum heat production and growth rate constant, indicating that Tetrahymena growth was inhibited in the presence of Pb2+, and Pb2+ took part in the metabolism of cells. From micrographs, morphological changes of Tetrahymena were observed with addition of Pb2+, indicating that the toxic effect of Pb2+ derived from destroying the membrane of surface of Tetrahymena. According to the thermogenic curves and photos of Tetrahymena under different conditions, it is clear that metabolic mechanism of Halobacterium halobium R1 growth has been changed with the addition of Pb2+.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Sciences, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China. liup567@163.com
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weiying
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiaojuan
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chaocan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D019617:Halobacterium salinarum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007700:Kinetics; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead