In vitro cytotoxicity of heavy metals, acrylamide, and organotin salts to neural cells and fibroblasts

Abstract

The cytotoxicity of neurotoxic agents was determined for a series of brain-derived cell types and compared with their toxic effects on BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts, using the neutral red assay. Ranking of toxicants according to their potencies was the same for all cells tested and was in the order of methylmercury>cadmium> mercury>zinc>acrylamide. For a series of di- and triorganotins the ranking order was dibutyl>diphenyl>dibenzyl>diproyl> diethyl>dimethyltin and triphenyl>tribenzyl>trimethyltin, respectively. The test was sensitive enough to detect structure activity relationships between the degree of toxicity and the hydrophobic characteristics of the agents tested. © 1987 Princeton Scientific Publishing Co., Inc.