Electrophysiological changes induced by asbestos in macrophage-like cells during long-term culture.

The effect of UICC asbestos samples on the electrophysiology of cell membranes has been investigated in a permanent macrophage-like cell line. Membrane potential and input resistance were measured in cells exposed to chrysotile, crocidolite or amosite in media with and without serum. This approach has demonstrated that different fibres can cause different changes in electrophysiological characteristics both during the early phagocytic phase and when cytotoxicity becomes apparent, suggesting that different mechanisms of cytotoxicity are involved.