Abstract: Objective To study the inhibitory effect of triethyltin chloride (TETC) on the proliferation of cultured rat C6 glioma cells. Methods MTT assay and light microscope were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of 0.5,1.0 and 2.0 μmol·L^-1 TETC on the proliferation of rat C6 glioma cells for 48 h,and electron microscope was performed to observe the ultrastructure changes of C6 glioma cells treated by 0.5,1.0 and 2.0 μmol·L^-1TETC for 48 h. Results 0.5,1.0 and 2.0 μmol·L^-1 TETC could inhibit the proliferation of cultured C6 glioma cells in vitro,and the inhibitory rate were 15.62%,36.16% and 41.92%,respectively. The inhibitory rate of TETC on the proliferation of C6 glioma cells evaluated by MTT assay increased in a dose-dependent manner,and there was significant difference compared with control and compared with each other among every two adjacent-dose groups(P<0.05). The nuclear chromatic condensation and margination were found in C6 glioma cells treated by 0.5,1.0 and 2.0 μmol·L^-1 TETC for 48 h by electron microscope,which showed the early ultrastructure changes of apoptosis. Conclusion TETC can inhibit the proliferation of cultured rat C6 glioma cells in viro.

Key words: glioma, proliferation, apoptosis