Studies on lysosomes in rat heart cell cultures. I. The effect of lysosomal labilizers.

Lysosomal labilizers including vitamin A acid and alcohol, chlorpromazin (CPZ) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) caused damage to rat heart and kidney cell cultures by a primary effect on the cell membrane and not on the lysosomes. Intact lysosomes could be observed even in very late stages of cell destruction produced by vitamin A. CPZ 10 M and 25 per cent DMSO caused disruption of the cell membranes including the lysosomes after 5-60 min. The significance of the surface activity of the material used in the cell damage is stressed.