title: Cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells present a valuable alternative to fish lethal testing for azoxystrobin.
abstract: The present study aims at identifying, among six mammalian and fish cell lines, a sensitive cell line whose in vitro median inhibitory concentration (IC50) better matches the in vivo short-term Sparus aurata median lethal concentration (LC50). IC50s and LC50 were assessed after exposure to the widely used fungicide azoxystrobin (AZX). Statistical results were relevant for most cell lines after 48 h of AZX exposure, being H9c2 the most sensitive cells, as well as the ones which provided the best prediction of fish toxicity, with a LC50,96h/IC50,48h = 0.581. H9c2 cell proliferation upon 72 h of AZX exposure revealed a LC50,96h/IC50,72h = 0.998. Therefore, identical absolute sensitivities were attained for both in vitro and in vivo assays. To conclude, the H9c2 cell-based assay is reliable and represents a suitable ethical alternative to conventional fish assays for AZX, and could be used to get valuable insights into the toxic effects of other pesticides.
authors: Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: etrodrig@zoo.uc.pt.
authors: Elsa T
authors: ET
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: mpardal@zoo.uc.pt.
authors: Miguel Â
authors: MÂ
authors: Pardal
authors: Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: vlaize@ualg.pt.
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Laizé
authors: Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine (DCBM), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: lcancela@ualg.pt.
authors: M Leonor
authors: ML
authors: Cancela
authors: Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra Biotech Building, Lot 8A, Biocant Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal. Electronic address: pauloliv@cnc.uc.pt.
authors: Paulo J
authors: PJ
authors: Oliveira
authors: Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra Biotech Building, Lot 8A, Biocant Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal. Electronic address: tserafim@ci.uc.pt.
authors: Teresa L
authors: TL
authors: Serafim
mesh_terms: D023401:Animal Use Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000633:toxicity; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000633:toxicity*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000254:growth & development; D000073739:Strobilurins; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D008689:Methacrylates; D010575:Pesticides; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000073739:Strobilurins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C087670:azoxystrobin
keywords: Alternative assays; Aquatic ecotoxicology; Azoxystrobin; Cell-based assays; Cytotoxicity; SRB assay