Toxicological Responses to Zinc,Copper and Cadmium in a Rat Intestinal Cell Line

Abstract

An intestinal epithelial cell line from neonatal rat duodenum (IEC-17) was used as a model for investigating metal toxicity.

In this paper, we have further characterised toxic effects on IEC-17 cells following exposure to two physiological metals, zinc (Zn²⁺) and copper (Cu²⁺) and one non-physiological metal, cadmium (Cd²⁺). Time-effect experiments showed that the duration of the exposure affected the extent of cell damage only when Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were used. During the first 48 hours of Zn²⁺ exposure, the cells were seriously affected, but subsequently were able to recover. On the other hand, a colony forming ability test and morphological observations showed a special sensitivity of this cell line to Cu²⁺. A possible explanation is suggested in relation to extracellular matrix formation.