title: Formaldehyde-induced shrinkage of rat thymocytes.
abstract: To test the possibility that micromolar formaldehyde, a metabolite of methanol derived from aspartame, exerts cytotoxicity, its effect on rat thymocytes was examined under the in vitro condition using a flow cytometer. Incubation of thymocytes with formaldehyde at 100 micro M or more for 24 h significantly increased the populations of shrunken cells and cells with hypodiploid DNA. The peak blood concentration of methanol in human subjects administered abuse doses of aspartame has been reported to exceed 2 mg/dL (625 micro M). It would increase the population of thymocytes undergoing apoptosis if formaldehyde at 100 micro M or more appears in the blood after administration of aspartame.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Umebayashi
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: Katuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001218:Aspartame / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde; D004247:DNA; D001218:Aspartame