Cytometric and electron microscopic studies of the direct interaction of divalent nickel with intact and chemically modified HuT-78 lymphoblasts.

Cytometric and ultrastructural studies on 24 hr cultures of intact, 1.0 mM H5IO6, and 0.1 mM SeO2-oxidized HuT-78 lymphoblasts were performed after their direct, 30 min interaction with 1.0 mM NiCl2. Except for moderately depressed cell viability, divalent nickel did not alter the progression of intact and oxidized target cells through the phases of the cell cycle. Although the plasma membrane remained structurally intact, marked distortion of mitochondria structure and increased osmiophilia were an invariable attribute of all nickel-pulsed cells. Moreover, numerous electron-opaque, intracellular depositions were detected in SeO2-oxidized, nickel-pulsed cells. It is concluded that the initial state of plasma membrane, and the interaction of nickel with other trace elements, have jointly determined the response of HuT-78 cells to brief and direct, divalent nickel pulses.