Figure 2

Effects of NH ₄ Cl on the cytotoxicity of primary hepatocytes and different cell lines. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assays. (A) The levels of MTT reduction were quantified and compared with the control at each concentration. The results showed that NH₄Cl induced specific cytotoxicity toward regenerating hepatocytes. (B) The viability of primary hepatocytes after exposured to 5, 20 and 50 mM ammonia for 48 h. A dramatic time-dependent loss was found in cell viability when exposure to 20 mM and 50 mM ammonia, however the viability of cells recovered when exposed to 5 mM ammonia for 48 h. (C) Effects of BAPTA-AM and EGTA on primary hepatocyte injury induced by hyperammonia. The cell viability of the hyperammonia group without BAPTA-AM or EGTA was clearly lower than those in the groups with BAPTA-AM or EGTA addition. Each value indicates the mean ± SEM normalized by the control for each concentration. Data were obtained from three independent experiments.