The concentration-dependent induction of cell death by trimethyltin chloride in rat liver epithelial IAR20 cells.

In this study we intended to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of trimethyltin chloride (TMT), one of the most widely used organometallic compounds, on liver cells with the rat liver epithelial cell line IAR20. The results showed that TMT significantly inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner and caused an increase in DNA damage. Additionally, Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry detected increases in apoptotic and necrotic cells. Western blots demonstrated that the Bcl-2 family of proteins was involved in the apoptotic process, but p53 was not concerned.