Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of ophthalmic solution preservatives and UVA radiation in L5178Y cells.
Four chemical preservatives commonly used in ophthalmic solutions were tested for their toxic and mutagenic potential in mouse lymphoma cells with and without exposure of the cells to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. The preservatives tested were benzalkonium chloride (BAK), chlorhexidine, thimerosal and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Cell survival and mutagenesis were measured using the L5178Y mouse lymphoma (TK +/-) system. Cells were exposed to varying amounts of preservatives for 1 h at 37 degrees C, and then aliquots were irradiated with UVA radiation (during the exposure to preservative). Cells were then assayed for survival, and for mutagenesis at the thymidine kinase (TK) locus. In concentrations commonly found in ophthalmic solutions, BAK, chlorhexidine, and thimerosal were toxic to cells, and thimerosal was slightly mutagenic. When cells were exposed to preservative and UVA radiation, chlorhexidine was mutagenic and the mutagenic activity of thimerosal was enhanced.
T J
TJ
Withrow
N T
NT
Brown
V M
VM
Hitchins
A G
AG
Strickland
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000633:toxicity; D007940:Leukemia L5178; D009154:Mutation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000633:toxicity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013849:Thimerosal; D002710:Chlorhexidine