Scanning electron microscopic studies on the cytolytic effect of phallolysin on isolated rat hepatocytes and AS-30 D hepatoma cells.

Rat hepatocytes and AS-30 D hepatoma cells were treated in vitro with phallolysin, the toxic haemolysin from the death cap fungus Amanita phalloides. Scanning electron microscopy revealed dose-dependent formation of bulky protrusions on the cell surface, which later on burst, expelling intracellular material into the surrounding medium, while the cells became stainable with trypan blue. After 1 haemolytic unit (HU)/ml the protrusions burst within 10 min; after 3 HU/ml all cells were destroyed within 3-5 min. Susceptibility of hepatoma cells did not differ from that of hepatocytes.