Toxicity and model membrane modifying properties of organolead compounds

The influence of trialkylleads on haemolysis of red blood cells (RBCs), gro wth of Spirodela oligorrhiza and stability of planar lipid membranes (PLMs) at different pH of solution has been studied. The results obtained show th at the efficiency of trialkylleads (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-lead chlorides) in modifying the physiological and mechanical properties of the objects studied depended both on pH of solution and hydrophobicity of the compounds. Namely, it was found that this efficiency increased with pH of s olution, The most significant increase was observed in PLM experiments. Als o, the hydrophobicity of trialkylleads influenced the properties mentioned. The more hydrophobic a compound the greater was its haemolytic toxicity. T he same applies to the physiological toxicity of the compounds, whose measu re was 50% inhibition of plant growth. Generally, the sequence of modifying possibilities of the compounds studied at any pH of the solution was the f ollowing: tributyllead > tripropyllead > triethyllead > trimethyllead A possible mechanism of the interaction of organolead species with model an d biological membranes is discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.