Human exposure to ochratoxin A in areas of Yugoslavia with endemic nephropathy.

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin with pronounced nephrotoxic potency in all species of single-stomach animals studied; it is a major disease determinant of porcine nephropathy and a disease occurring endemically in several countries. This disease is comparable with Balkan (endemic) nephropathy, suggesting a common causal relationship. Ochratoxin A has been found in foodstuffs in many countries, but the highest frequency of ochratoxin A contamination in foods (10.

The rate of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells during combined long-term and acute exposures to lead.

Asynchronous populations of HeLa cells growing as monolayers were incubated in a nutritive medium supplemented with a low concentration of 10(-5) M lead chloride for several months. At various time intervals the [3H]thymidine uptake was measured in the DNA of the cells by a scintillation counting technique. During the first 2 weeks of incubation, the rate of DNA synthesis was slightly reduced.

[Lead and cadmium toxicity in established mammalian cell lines].

Lead and cadmium toxicity was evaluated in three mammalian cell lines (tumour : HeLa, transformed : XC and normal : NRK) by means of the modifications of the 3H-TdR incorporation rate in the nucleus of the treated cells. The three cell lines showed different degrees of sensitivity. Sensitivity depended on the line, metal, its concentration and duration of incubation.