Responses of Cell Cultures to Insecticides. III. Altered Susceptibility to Poliovirus and Diphtheria Toxin.

Abstract

Summary He-La cell cultures were maintained in the presence of insecticides for periods up to 108 days. At certain intervals the treated cells were subcultured without insecticides and then infected with poliovirus or submitted to reaction with diphtheria toxin. The Cygon-, Dipterex-, DI-Syston-, chlordane-, and Karathane-treated cultures were more susceptible to poliovirus infection and the infected cells degenerated more rapidly. The malathion-treated cells did not show any change in susceptibility. The Karathane-treated cells were 10 times more resistant to the lethal action of diphtheria toxin than the control. Other treated cultures showed no changes with respect to diphtheria toxin reactivity. The results indicate some alterations in physiology of the insecticide-treated cells which affect the cell response to 2 other biologically active agents—poliovirus and diphtheria toxin.