Effects of a Water-Miscible Multiple Vitamin Preparation on Tissue Cultures.

Summary 1. The effects of a commercial water-miscible multiple vitamin preparation, Vi-Penta, on mouse fibroblasts and beating heart fragments grown in tissue culture were investigated. 2. Cultures exposed to a 1:1,000 dilution of the vitamin preparation for a period of 2 weeks were markedly affected morphologically. The most distinctive changes were a notable increase in cytoplasmic granularity and a broadening of the cells. 3. The toxic agent responsible for the morphologic effects appears to be associated with the vitamin A and D fraction of the preparation. However, crystalline vitamin A and irradiated ergosterol had no abnormal effect on the cells. 4. A marked and abnormal decrease in the number of beating heart fragments occurred when Vi-Penta was present in the supernatant. 5. Vi-Penta is not unique in its morphologic and physiologic effects, since tests with a commercial water-miscible vitamin preparation from a different source gave similar abnormal effects.