Polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures (Aroclors) induce apoptosis via Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 proteins in neuronal cell cultures.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of persistent and widely dispersed environmental pollutants, some of which may be neurotoxic. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of PCB commercial mixtures (Aroclors) on neuronal cell cultures by assessing cell viability and apoptotic cell death. We have combined morphological and biochemical techniques to establish the relevance of apoptosis in neuronal cell death induced by Aroclors.

Apoptosis-mediated neurotoxic potential of a planar (PCB 77) and a nonplanar (PCB 153) polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in neuronal cell cultures.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, some of which may be neurotoxic depending on the chemical structure of the congeners. This study investigated the neurotoxic potential of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) (PCB 77, a non-ortho-substituted planar congener) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) (PCB 153, a di-ortho-substituted nonplanar congener) by assessing cell viability and apoptotic cell death in neuronal cell cultures. We have combined morphological and biochemical techniques to establish the relevance of apoptosis in neuronal cell death induced by the two selected PCB congeners.