Response of HeLa Cells to Selected Pesticides and Hallucinogens

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1978

Description

Monolayer cultures of HeLa cells were used to monitor the effect of five liquid commercial insecticidal formulations (Raid®, Isotox®, Sevin®, Ortho-Klor 74®, and Malathion 50®, and two pure hallucinogenic chemicals (d-lysergic acid diethylamide or LSD and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or Δ-9-THC). HeLa cells were incubated for 48 hrs with different concentrations of the selected formulations or chemicals, after which the effect on cell culture growth was determined. Ortho-Klor74® was found to be the most toxic of the formulations or hallucinogens used in that it was 100.0% lethal to the HeLa cells at a concentration of 0.015 μl of liquid formulation per ml of cell growth medium (μl/ml). When HeLa cells were exposed to the same low concentration (0.015 μl/ml) of Raid®, Isotox®, and Malathion 50®, cell numbers increased. Sevin® had no effect on cell numbers at 0.015 μl/ml but enhanced cell numbers at 1.5 μl/ml. The lowest tested concentrations of the two hallucinogens produced no stimulation in 'cell number'. As the concentrations of each formulation or hallucinogen were increased, the number of cells decreased. It was observed that Δ-9-THC (1.0 μl/ml) was seven times more toxic to HeLa cells than LSD (at 1.0 μg/ml). The investigated concentrations of each formulation or pure compound that had the least toxicity to the HeLa cells when compared to untreated controls were then used in further experiments to monitor the chemical's effect on trichloroacetic acid precipitable nucleic acids and protein following a 48 hr incubation period with appropriate radioactive precursors and chemicals. When HeLa cells were exposed to Raid®, Isotox®, and Malathion 50® at 0.015 μl/ml and Sevin® at 1.5 μl/ml, the quantities of RNA, DNA, and protein in the HeLa cells increased. Both LSD (7.5 μg/ml) and Δ-9-THC (1.0 μg/ml) profoundly decreased HeLa cell nucleic acids and protein.

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