Acrylamide cytotoxicity in chick ganglia cultures

Abstract

The short-term effects of acrylamide (AcA), singly or in combination with added nucleotides (NAD, NADP) and selected cofactors (nicotinamide, glutathione), on chick dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in culture were investigated. Examination by phase-contrast and light microscopy for chemically induced morphological alteration of neurons and neuroglia provided the criteria for assessment and quantitation of the cytotoxic effects. The concentrations of AcA to produce half-maximal effect for nerve fibers and neuroglia were found to be 2.1 × 10−4 and 3.8 × 10−4m, respectively. There were no observable effects on any type of cell below 10−5m AcA, while complete inhibition of cell growth was apparent at 10−2m. Cytoplasmic vacuolization, nerve fiber swelling, and degenerative changes of the mixed nerve elements were minimal. Addition of NAD, NADP, nicotinamide, and glutathione (10−4m) prevented the cytotoxic effects of 10−3m AcA to a varying degree. Results indicated that AcA is slightly more toxic to nerve fibers than to neuroglia in vitro, and that these cytotoxic effects can be protected by nucleotides and cofactors nicotinamide and glutathione.