Electron microscopic study of the cytotoxicity of cadmium and mercury in vitro.

The cells treated with cadmium chloride showed severe changes: ribosomes disappeared, mitochondria showed various degrees of destruction, and the endoplasmic reticulum had a swollen and beadlike appearance. In cells treated with mercuric chloride, ribosomes increased in their density and rosette-like polysomes were predominantly observed. The effects of these two metallic ions were discussed.