[Mechanism of the cytotoxic action of formaldehyde on cultured mammalian cells].

Induction and repair of DNA lesions cell inactivation and repair of potentially lethal damages (PLD) were studied after the treatment of cultured cells with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde induced the appearance of a rapidly sedimentating DNA--membrane complex. This complex may contain up to 50% of choline and no more than 3-5% of leucine or lysine incorporated in the acid insoluble cell fraction, Inhibition of DNA synthesis, induction of single strand DNA breaks and/or alkali-labile sites increased with the raise of formaldehyde concentration. A good correlation is observed between with the raise of formaldehyde concentration. A good correlation is observed between with the raise of formaldehyde concentration. A good correlation is observed between the increasing DNA quantities in the rapid sedimentation complex and the cell lethality.