Toxicological responses to zinc, copper and cadmium in a rat intestinal cell line

By Bises, G. - Ranaldi, G. - Scarino, M.L. - Zucco, F.

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.