The influence of lithium on cell growth and cell viability was studied in short‐term cultures of a neural precursor cell line (NT) developed from a murine teratocarcinoma. At very low concentrations ranging from 0.1 mmto 1 mmLi2CO3(equivalent to therapeutic blood concentrations) there was no difference between untreated and treated cultures. 10 mmlithium (Li+) was found to be toxic with 33 of cell death, while there was inhibition of growth without cell death at concentrations of 2.5 mmand 5 mmof Li+. In experiments where 2.5 mmLi+was added at the time of seeding, there was growth arrest on day 1 followed by recovery on day 2. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cells treated with Li+were blocked in S phase. At 5 mmconcentration of Li+, the recovery occurred on day 3 and the plating efficiency was significantly low. The ability to form colonies in soft agar was reduced at 2.5 mmand 5 mmconcentrations of Li+to an equal extent. Thus, Li+has growth inhibitory as well as anchorage‐independent growth reducing effects. The NT cell line therefore would be a good model system to study the mechanism of teratogenic effect of
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