Aim. To investigate the effect of polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG) to eukaryotic cell culture. Methods. The passaged bovine tracheal cells culture (TCC) and primary culture of chicken embryo fi broblasts (FCE) were used in the experiments. TCC and FCE monolayers were treated with aqueous solutions of PHMG chloride or succinate. The method of PHMG polycation adsorption to the cells’ plasma membrane together with microscopy were applied. Results. The dependence of PHMG effect on the eukaryotic cells on the agent concentration, duration of exposure and the anion type has been fi xed. The PHMG concentration of 10 –5 per cent (0.1 μg/ml) never causes degradation of the previously formed cell monolayer, while the higher concentrations damage it. The conditions of the PHMG chloride and succinate’s negative effect on cell proliferation and inhibition of monolayer formation were determined. The hypothesis that under certain conditions PHMG stimulates the proliferative activity of the cells has been confi rmed.
Stimulation may be associated with non-specifi c stress adaptation of cells. In this case, it is due to modifi cations of the cell membrane after PHMG adsorption to it. Conclusions. PHMG polycation binds with the membrane’s phosphoglycerides fi rmly and irreversibly. A portion of the lipids are removed from participation in the normal cellular processes at that. At the same time, the synthesis of new lipids and membrane-bound enzymes is probably accelerated. The phospholip ids’ neogenesis acceleration can stimulate mitosis under certain conditions. The obtained results can be used in the biotechnologies.