Cytotoxicity of Hexavalent Chromium to Rat Hepatocytes in Vitro

BACKGROUNDAIM: To study the toxicity of hexavalent chromium on rat hepatocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rat hepatocytes BRL-3A were treated with hexavalent chromium at concentrations of0,0.1,1,10and100μmol/L Viability was assessed by3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)method and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis. RESULTS: Viability decreased with the increasing concentration of hexavalent chromium.Cell apoptosis induced by hexavalent chromium also showed in a dose-dependent pattern. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that hexavalent chromium had a damaging effect on hepatocytes and induced apoptosis at the concentrations used in the present study.