title: Comparison of neurite outgrowth with neurofilament protein subunit levels in neuroblastoma cells following mercuric oxide exposure.
abstract: 1. The objectives of the study were to establish that inhibition of neuronal differentiation in culture (assessed by neurite outgrowth) can be used as a broad spectrum in vitro measure of neurotoxicity. 2. To establish whether a rapid measure of neurite outgrowth could be used. Thus the study examined the relationship between the degree of neurite outgrowth assessed directly by image analysis and neurofilament protein subunit levels measured by an ELISA. 3. SKNSH neuroblastoma cells, exposed for up to 6 days to mercuric chloride during initiation and continuation of differentiation, had lower levels of neurofilament proteins than unexposed cells. 4. Preliminary data from parallel examinations of neurite outgrowth assessed by image analysis and neurofilament protein subunit levels assessed by ELISA support a correlation when neurofilament protein levels are decreased by sub-cytotoxic doses of mercuric chloride in SKNSH cells.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, UK.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calaminici
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010087:Oxides / Q000633:toxicity*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017669:Mercury Compounds; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010087:Oxides; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008628:Mercury; C019468:mercuric oxide