Hazard assessment of chemicals using fish cell culture and quantitative structure-activity relationships in aquatic toxicology.

Abstract

Present status of cytotoxicity studies with fish cell culture and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) in aquatic toxicology were discussed from the viewpoint of utilization of alternative species or methods for toxicity tests. In vitro cytotoxicity studies with fish cell culture were much less than those with mammalian cells. However, recently cytotoxicity studies comparing toxicological responses in fish cell with those in whole fish and mammalian cells are increasing. Reproduction, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) and cromosomal aberration of cells are used as a measure of effects on cells. Especially, UDS and cromosomal aberration are used in studies to detect carcinogenic substances in an aquatic environment. In QSAR studies, steric parameters e. g. molecular connectivity index were taken into consideration as a physical-chemical properties in addition to well-known n-octanol/water partition coefficient recently and it is concluded that its ability to predict the toxicity is successful for range-finding and test priority determination among the chemicals.