[Evaluation of the toxic effects of preventive and therapeutic preparations in transplantable cell cultures from different species and of different origins. I. Demonstration of the toxic properties of commercial batches of adsorbed DPT vaccine in cell cultures].

Continuous cell cultures are sensitive test systems used not only for the determination of the toxicity of diphtheria exotoxin, but also for revealing the toxic properties of adsorbed DPT vaccine. Morphological changes induced by the action of diphtheria exotoxin and adsorbed DPT vaccine in the cultures of L929, HeLa, FL, L132 and monkey tonsil cells are similar in character. The effect produced by the diphtheria exotoxin and adsorbed DPT vaccine on cell cultures may be characterized as toxic, subtoxic and minimal. Nevertheless, even in the cultures treated with minimal concentrations the pathological state of the cells can be detected in the next 2 or 3 serial subcultures.