[Biological characteristics of rat lung cells cultured in a medium with N-nitrosodimethylamine precursors].

Lung tissue culture of 3-day old rats was cultivated in the presence of sodium nitrite, amidopyrine and combination of these substances with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Each of these compounds produces specific changes in monolayer density, mitotic patterns and level of DNA synthesis in lung cell culture, which is considered to be convenient model for investigating cell response to the precursors of NDMA and to this carcinogen.