In vitro cytotoxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide parathion to FG-9307 cells

FG-9307, a cell line derived from a gill of the flounder, Paralichthys oliv aceus, was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of the organophosphorus (OP) pesticide parathion. Cytotoxicity was measured by three endpoint syste ms: neutral red (NR) uptake assay, tetrazolium (MTT) assay and cell protein assay, The lowest concentration of parathion tested (1 mug/ml) was toxic a nd there was no significant difference in cytotoxic effects among the three assays. The FG-9307 cell line is a suitable bioindicator for the screening of the acute toxicities of parathion. The fine structures of the cells wer e also studied. Ultrastructures were markedly altered by parathion, as evid enced by dilation of nuclear membranes and mitochondrial cristae and by the presence of lysosomes with engulfed particles. With the increase of the pa rathion concentration, the damage degree of the cellular structures was mor e serious. At the highest concentration tested (15 mug/ml), there were few visible organelles, although such changes in cell morphology were not obser ved under a light microscope. Apparently, this is the unnoted report of mar ine fish cell line used for the evaluation of the acute in vitro cytotoxici ty of parathion, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.