title: Toxicity profiles and solvent-toxicant interference in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea after dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) exposure.
abstract: To investigate hydrophobic test compounds in toxicological studies, solvents like dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are inevitable. However, using these solvents, the interpretation of test compound-induced responses can be biased. DMSO concentration guidelines are available, but are mostly based on acute exposures involving one specific toxicity endpoint. Hence, to avoid solvent-toxicant interference, we use multiple chronic test endpoints for additional interpretation of DMSO concentrations and propose a statistical model to assess possible synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects of test compounds and their solvents. In this study, the effects of both short- (1 day) and long-term (2 weeks) exposures to low DMSO concentrations (up to 1000 µl l(-1) ) were studied in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. We measured different biological levels in both fully developed and developing animals. In a long-term exposure set-up, a concentration of 500 µl l(-1) DMSO interfered with processes on different biological levels, e.g. behaviour, stem cell proliferation and gene expression profiles. After short exposure times, 500 µl l(-1) DMSO only affected motility, whereas the most significant changes on different parameters were observed at a concentration of 1000 µl l(-1) DMSO. As small sensitivity differences exist between biological levels and developmental stages, we advise the use of this solvent in concentrations below 500 µl l(-1) in this organism. In the second part of our study, we propose a statistical approach to account for solvent-toxicant interactions and discuss full-scale solvent toxicity studies. In conclusion, we reassessed DMSO concentration limits for different experimental endpoints in the planarian S. mediterranea.
authors: Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, building D, BE 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors: An-Sofie
authors: AS
authors: Stevens
authors: Nicky
authors: N
authors: Pirotte
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Plusquin
authors: Maxime
authors: M
authors: Willems
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Neyens
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Artois
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Smeets
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D010932:Planarians / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide
keywords: DMSO; different biological levels; planarians; solvent-toxicant interference; toxicology