Responses of Cell Cultures to Insecticides. I. Acute Toxicity to Human Cells.

Abstract

Summary Human Chang liver and HeLa cells were exposed to organophosphorous, organochlorine, and dinitrophenol insecticidal compounds. The acute cytotoxicity was measured during 48-hour incubation and the effects expressed in two ways: the toxic dose (TD₅₀) based on cytopathological effects observed microscopically; and the growth inhibition (ID₅₀) based on inhibition of cell protein synthesis. Results by each criterion closely correlated but the growth inhibition test was generally more sensitive. All insecticides tested were cytotoxic in both cell lines and induced progressive morphological changes leading to destruction of cells. For liver cells the ID₅₀ values ranged from 0.3 μg to 170 μg per ml of medium. For HeLa cells the results were approximately the same. Dinitrophenol insecticides were relatively more toxic than organochlorine and organophosphorus compounds.