Use of fish gill cells in culture to evaluate the cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity of intact and photomodified creosote

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 1277 - 1288
• Main Authors: Schirmer, K, Herbrick, J.A.S, Greenberg, B.M, Dixon, D.G, Bols, N.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.06.1999; SETAC
• Subjects: 540320 - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; ANIMALS; Applied ecology; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; AROMATICS; BIOASSAY; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS; BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; CELL CULTURES; Cells; CREOSOTE; Cytotoxicity; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FISHES; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GILLS; HYDROCARBONS; Oncorhynchus mykiss; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; Photocytotoxicity; Photomodification; POLLUTION; POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; RADIATIONS; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; toxicity; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; VERTEBRATES; WATER POLLUTION; Salmonidae; Cell culture; Vertebrata; Ultraviolet radiation; Gill; Cell line; Phytotoxicity; Pisces; Creosote; Cytotoxicity; Oncorhynchus mykiss
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620180630

The influence of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on creosote toxicity was investigated with the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill cell line. RTgill-W1, and two indicator dyes, alamar Blue(TM) and 5-carboxyfluorescein diacetate acetoxymethyl ester. These monitor redox potential and membrane integrity, respectively. After solubilization and chemical analysis, creosote was presented to cells in the dark to measure cytotoxicity or concurrently with UV irradiation to evaluate photocytotoxicity. Additionally, creosote was photomodified by 2 h of UV irradiation before presentation to cells in the dark or together with UV. Cytotoxicity was detected only at high nominal creosote concentrations, but photocytoxicity occurred at creosote concentrations 35-fold lower. All the aromatic hydrocarbons in creosote appeared to contribute to cytotoxicity, but photocytotoxicity was due only to the fluoranthene, pyrene, anthracene, and benzo[a]anthracene in the mixture. Photomodified creosote was much more cytotoxic than intact creosote and this difference was most pronounced in the alamar Blue assay. Likely, this was due to photomodification products that impaired the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Photomodified creosote was slightly less photocytotoxic than intact creosote. Overall these results indicate that UV irradiation potentially enhances the toxicity of creosote to fish in several different but significant ways.