Sensitivity of morphological change of Vero cells exposed to lipophilic compounds and its mechanism.

To find a sensitive cytotoxic response to reflect the toxicity of trace organic pollutants, the sensitivity and reliability of morphological change and proliferation inhibition of Vero cells exposed to lipophilic compounds and the leachate from products related to drinking water (PRDW) were compared, and the mechanism of the morphological change in Vero cells was studied. Results showed the proportion of morphologically changed cells increased with increasing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP)/perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentration. However, at low TCP concentrations, inhibition of cell proliferation did not correlate to TCP concentration. After exposure to the leachate from PRDW extracted at different temperatures, the percentage of morphologically changed cells increased with extracting temperature, but the inhibition of cell proliferation failed to reflect the correlation to extracting temperature. These imply cell morphological change is a more sensitive and reliable method to reflect toxicity of trace organic pollutants than proliferation inhibition. Flow cytometry analysis indicated cell membrane damage was an early and sensitive cytotoxic response comparing with necrosis, resulting in cell morphological change, which may be due to the interference of lipophilic compounds. Lipophilic compound accumulated in cell membrane to interfere the assembly process of membrane protein and phospholipid.