title: Comparison of an immortalized human corneal epithelial cell line and rabbit corneal epithelial cell culture in cytotoxicity testing.
abstract: The cytotoxicity of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and disodium edetate (EDTA) was evaluated in vitro in rabbit corneal epithelial primary cells and in the immortalized human corneal epithelial cell line SV40. Cell injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and by reduction of the tetrazolium salt WST-1 to formazan by mitochondrial metabolic activity. Cell cultures were exposed to test compounds both in serum-free and in serum-containing medium. Although WST-1 and LDH tests measured different physiological endpoints, they yielded comparable results. However, the LDH test seemed less reliable due to great variation. The use of serum was found to result in lower toxicity of the compounds in both tests. The rabbit primary cell culture and the human corneal cell line were quite similar in their responses to BAC and EDTA. The human cell line is a promising in vitro alternative in oculotoxicity testing.
authors: Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Huhtala
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Mannerström
authors: Päivi
authors: P
authors: Alajuuma
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Nurmi
authors: Tarja
authors: T
authors: Toimela
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Tähti
authors: Lotta
authors: L
authors: Salminen
authors: Hannu
authors: H
authors: Uusitalo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000506:poisoning*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110656:2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D005562:Formazans; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D004492:Edetic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase