[Toxic pathology of the hepatocyte in histiotype culture. II--Effects of an organic chlorine compound: lindane. Effect of a foreign metabolizable substance and toxic effect].

Lindane or HCH is gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, still used as an agricultural insecticide. Tests were carried out using primary cultures of chicken embryo hepatocytes at the 11th day of incubation, for a fixed period of 40 hours, using different concentrations of the substance. From 0.5 to 10 mumol/l, acid phosphatase fell significantly, without any other consequences being observed. From 25 to 50 mumol/l, there was a tendency to hypertrophy of the mitochondria, to hyperplasia of the granular and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and of the Golgi system. Growth was unchanged and acid phosphatase decreased. From 75 to 125 mumol/l, these changes were accompanied by signs of cellular damage and there was marked autophagia. Growth was reduced and acid phosphatase greatly decreased. From 150 to 175 mumol/l, the lesions were markedly polymorphous and some indicative of impending cytolysis, in particular spiral tearing of the hyaloplasm. Growth was markedly impaired, whilst there was a paradoxal increase in acid phosphatase. In increasing concentration, L first had the effect of a metabolisable foreign substance, of the "phenobarbital" type, then a definite toxic action. Sensitivity of the individual hepatocytes differed.