Inhibition of cell proliferation by glycerol

The effect of glycerol on proliferation of BHK, CHO, HBL, MCF-7, and human glioma cells was studied. Cell proliferation was significantly decreased in all the cell lines at glycerol concentrations of 2–4% in the culture medium. The inhibition was dose-dependent, complete suppression of proliferation occuring at a glycerol concentration of 4% for the MCF-7 cell line and 6–8% for the BHK, CHO and human glioma cells. Studies on [3H]thymidine incorporation correlate with the effect on cell proliferation. The viability of the cells was not significantly affected until higher concentrations of glycerol (12%+) were present. Recovery studies with BHK cells indicated that replacement of the glycerol medium with glycerol-free medium resulted in full recovery following exposure to 4% glycerol and only partial recovery (65%) of proliferation rate following exposure to 10–12% glycerol. It is concluded that glycerol, a substance that is normally present in tissues, can serve as a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation.