Lysosome response and cytoskeleton alteration in cell cultures exposed to airborne lead.

The results indicate that the delay in acridine orange loss by lysosomes exposed to UV can serve as a sensitive probe to the lead content of the cell milieu and the induced responses. This lysosome stabilization is in agreement with the reported decreased release of lysosome enzymes by lead in rat cerebral tissue. The lead induced lysosome stabilization reported here is undoubtedly pathologic in view of the cytoskeleton alteration that usually accompanied the introduction of lead in the cell media either from laboratory sources or natural conditions.