In vitro cell-toxicity screening as an alternative animal model for coral toxicology: effects of heat stress, sulfide, rotenone, cyanide, and cuprous oxide on cell viability and mitochondrial function

    Authors

    C. A. Downs; J. E. Fauth; V. D. Downs;G. K. Ostrander

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Ecotoxicology

    Keywords

    Cell isolation; Coral; Cyanide; Cytotoxicity; Cuprous oxide; Sulfide; NONYL-ACRIDINE-ORANGE; SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION; COLORIMETRIC; ASSAY; HYDROGEN-SULFIDE; BLEACHING EVENT; REEF HEALTH; SMOKING; POLLUTION; FUTURE; DEATH; Ecology; Environmental Sciences; Toxicology

    Abstract

    The logistics involved in obtaining and maintaining large numbers of corals hampers research on the toxicological effects of environmental contaminants for this ecologically and economically important taxon. A method for creating and culturing single-cell suspensions of viable coral cells was developed. Cell segregation/separation was based on specific cell densities and resulting cell cultures were viable for at least 2 mos. Low-density cells lacking symbiotic zooxanthallae and rich in mitochondria were isolated and cultured for toxicity studies. Cells were exposed to differing degrees or concentrations of heat stress, rotenone, cyanide, sulfide, and cuprous oxide. Cells were assayed for mitochondrial membrane potential using the fluorescent probe, JC-9, and for overall viability using the MTT/formazan spectrophotometric viability assay. Significant differences were observed between controls and treatments and the efficacy of this method was validated; only 2 cm(2) of tissue was required for a seven-point concentration-exposure series.

    Journal Title

    Ecotoxicology

    Volume

    19

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    171

    Last Page

    184

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000273032100017

    ISSN

    0963-9292

    Share

    COinS