ABSTRACT. The effects of extracellular anions (10-150 mM, added as Na salts to normal growth medium) on the growth of Chinese hamster V-79 cells were examined. Additions of NaCl and NaNO3 at concentrations greater than 60 mM reduced the growth rate dose-dependently. Several other anions also inhibited cell growth in the decreasing order of potency, SCN->NO2-> NO 3->Br->Cl->gluconate->glutamate->Mes-. When the added anions were removed, the growth rate was restored to the control rate. Cell survival was markedly reduced by the addition of SCN-, but was less affected by other anions (Cl-, NO3-and NO2-) of comparable potency. The respective syntheses of cellular DNA and protein, as estimated from the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine and [14C]leucine, also decreased with the increase in the concentration (60-120 mM) of anions added, the order of potency being SCN-> NO2->NO3-> Cl-. After anion-treatment, the cellular Na+ concentration increased and the cellular Cl-concentration decreased in the order of SCN-> NO2->NO3-, Cl-, but, the cellular K+ concentration did not change significantly. These data suggest that changes in extracellular anions affect cell growth and survival, probably through changes in the intracellular Na+ or Cl-concentration and in the rates of protein and/or DNA synthesis.Proliferation of mammalian cells in culture is known to be affected by changes in extracellular cation concentrations. A reduction in the extracellular Na+ (8) or Ca2+ (7) concentration produces a lack of proliferative response and a decreased intracellular Na+ and/or K+ concentration. Removal of extracellular Na+ (1) or K+ (9) stops the initiation of DNA synthesis stimulated by such mitogens as epidermal growth factor, vasopressin and insulin. Also, intracellular K+ functions in the control of protein synthesis (2). Thus, changes in extracellular cation concentrations appear to affect cell growth through changes in the intracellular cation concentrations and in the synthesis of DNA and/or protein.Various biological responses are reportedly altered when there are changes in the extracellular anions (17); but, the effects of extracellular anions on cell growth have not yet been examined. Therefore, we have examined the effects of anions added as Na salts to normal growth medium on Chinese hamster V-79 cells.