Morphological evaluation of steatosis in monolayer cultures (MDCK cells) after treatment with gentamicin and valproic acid

Abstract

An attempt was made to develop a method for the morphological and morphometric evaluation of fat inclusions in monolayer cell cultures. For this purpose we used electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and Sudan black staining methods followed by morphometric evaluation techniques. MDCK (Madin-Darby-caninekidney) cells were treated with valproic acid (VPA; 10, 100, 1000 pglml medium for 22 hrs) and gentamicin (1, 10,50 pglml for 60 min). Sudan black staining revealed a dose-dependent increase in fat deposits after application of the two substances. SEM inspection showed differences in the size and distribution of the fat inclusions. TEM findings only partly allowed us to differentiate clearly between VPA- and gentamicin-induced fat inclusions.