title: Probing the in vitro cytotoxicity of the veterinary drug oxytetracycline.
abstract: The study investigated the effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on the anti-oxidative defense system, the structure (hemolysis rate and morphology) and function (ATP enzyme activity) of human red blood cells (hRBCs) to investigate the possible toxic mechanism of OTC to hRBCs. The experimental results indicate that OTC can cause a decline in the function of the antioxidant defense system of hRBCs, resulting in oxidative stress. OTC can bring about morphological changes to hRBCs, and further leads to hemolysis, when the concentration of OTC is over 8×10(-5) M (about 164 µg/ml). At a low OTC concentration, below 4×10(-5) M (82 µg/ml), OTC can enhance the activity of ATP enzyme of hRBCs, known as hormesis. However, at a high concentration, above 4×10(-5) M (about 82 µg/ml), the ATP enzymatic activity was inhibited, affecting the function of hRBCs. The estalished mechanism of toxicity of OTC to hRBCs can facilitate a deeper understanding of the toxicity of OTC in vivo.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China; School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Rutao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China; School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019155:Veterinary Drugs; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D010118:Oxytetracycline