The effect of oxygen tension on the cytotoxicity of hydroquinone and selected hydroquinone metabolites to isolated rat renal proximal tubular cells.

The cytotoxicity of hydroquinone (HQ) and several of its metabolites was studied using freshly isolated proximal tubular (PT) kidney cells from rats. Incubations were conducted for periods of up to 4 h at 37 degrees C, with cytotoxicity measured either as increased leakage of lactate dehydrogenase or as a decreased energy status, as determined by decreased ratios of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Incubation atmospheres consisted of either 95% O(2)/5% CO(2), to promote cell viability in vitro, or 5% O(2)/5% CO(2)/90% N(2).