Cytotoxic and cell transforming activities of the fungicide methyl thiophanate on BALB/c 3T3 cells in vitro.

Cytotoxic and cell-transforming activities of methyl thiophanate a systemic fungicide capable of entering plant cells and thus controlling fungal diseases that have already started were studied in an in vitro medium-term (6-8 weeks) experimental model utilizing BALB/c 3T3 cells. Cells were exposed to the chemical, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, in the absence or presence of an exogenous metabolizing system derived from rat livers supplemented with cofactors (S9 mix). In the absence of metabolic activation, methyl thiophanate exerted cytotoxic activity, evidenced through the formation of cell colonies, at low doses (> 10 micrograms/ml).

Cytotoxic activity and transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells in vitro by the insecticide acephate.

Cytotoxic and cell transforming activity of the organophosphate insecticide acephate have been studied in an in vitro experimental model which foresees the exposure of BALB/c 3T3 cells to the chemical. The assay was performed in the presence or absence of metabolic activation system derived from phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone induced rats (S9-mix). Cytotoxicity of acephate was unaffected by the presence of the metabolizing fraction.

Transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells in vitro by the fungicides captan, captafol and folpet.

Cytotoxic and cell-transforming activities of the three fungicides, captan, captafol and folpet, have been studied in an experimental in vitro model by exposing BALB/c 3T3 cells to the chemicals with or without S-9 mix-induced bioactivation. Cytotoxicity of the three compounds was reduced in the presence of the metabolizing system. Each assayed pesticide displayed cell-transforming ability in the presence of the metabolizing system.

Cytotoxic and cell transforming effects of the insecticide, lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) on BALB/c 3T3 cells.

Further information was gathered on the possible carcinogenic hazard associated to the exposure to the insecticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane). The parameters studied were the cytotoxic and cell transforming activities of the pesticide on BALB/c 3T3 cells in an in vitro experimental model system in the absence or in the presence of rat liver S-9 mix-induced metabolic activation of the chemical. Lindane did not exert cytotoxic effects at all the tested doses (ranging from 10 micrograms/ml to 200 micrograms/ml) in the absence of bioactivation.