An in vitro procedure for evaluation of early stage oxidative stress in an established fish cell line applied to investigation of PHAH and pesticide toxicity

Oxidative stress by increased production of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide has been implicated in the toxicity of PCB's and non-target toxicity of many pesticides. We report the development of a microplate-based method for determination of early stage oxidative stress using an established cell line (EPC) from a skin tumour of carp Cyprinus carpio L. and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H(2)-DCFDA) as a fluorescent probe for detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Sublethal concentrations of the herbicide Paraquat, an established redox cycling agent and a crude PCB mixture, Arochlor 1254 elicited a linear increase in ROS formation over 2 h exposure which was some 45- and 10-fold higher, respectively, than attributable to basal respiration, confirming the suitability and response of the test system. Whilst in vivo studies in mammals have implicated early stage oxidative stress in the toxicity of pesticides, we did not observe an increase in ROS production after exposure of EPC cells to sublethal concentrations of Carbaryl, 2,4-DDT, Lindane or Malathion implying that this is not the causative mechanism of acute toxicity in this fish cell line. The apparent involvement of oxidative stress in their mammalian toxicity may therefore be an indirect effect or dependent upon compound metabolism.