Ethanol toxicity in primary cultures of rat myocardial cells

Ethanol addictively enhances the in vitro cardiotoxicity of cocaine through oxidative damage, energetic deregulation, and apoptosis

Cocaine (COC) is frequently consumed in polydrug abuse settings, and ethanol (EtOH) is the most prominent co-abused substance. Clinical data and experimental evidence suggest that the co-administration of COC with EtOH can be more cardiotoxic than EtOH or COC alone, but information on the molecular pathways involved is scarce. Since these data are crucial to potentiate the identification of therapeutic targets to treat intoxications, we sought to (i) elucidate the type of interaction that occurs between both substances, and (ii) assess the mechanisms implicated in the cardiotoxic effects elicited by COC combined with EtOH. For this purpose, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to COC (104 µM-6.5 mM) and EtOH (977 µM-4 M), individually or combined at a molar ratio based on blood concentrations of intoxicated abusers (COC 1: EtOH 9; 206 µM-110 mM). After 24 h, cell metabolic viability was recorded by the MTT assay and mixture toxicity expectations were calculated using the independent action (IA) and concentration addition (CA) models. EtOH (EC₅₀ 305.26 mM) proved to act additively with COC (EC₅₀ 2.60 mM) to significantly increase the drug in vitro cardiotoxicity, even when both substances were combined at individually non-cytotoxic concentrations. Experimental mixture testing (EC₅₀ 19.18 ± 3.36 mM) demonstrated that the cardiotoxicity was fairly similar to that predicted by IA (EC₅₀ 22.95 mM) and CA (EC₅₀ 21.75 mM), supporting additivity. Concentration-dependent increases of intracellular ROS/RNS and GSSG, depletion of GSH and ATP, along with mitochondrial hyperpolarization and activation of intrinsic, extrinsic, and common apoptosis pathways were observed both for single and combined exposures. In general, the mixture exhibited a toxicological profile that mechanistically did not deviate from the single drugs, suggesting that interventions such as antioxidant administration might aid in the clinical treatment of this type of polydrug intoxication. In a clinical perspective, the observed additive mixture effect may reflect the increased hazards at which users of this combination are exposed to in recreational settings.

Cocaine-induced cardiotoxicity in vitro

A growing number of reports have related cocaine use with the onset of myocardial infarction in young otherwise healthy individuals. Although the cardiac effects of cocaine have traditionally been attributed to sympathomimetic stimulation, several studies have suggested that cocaine may be directly cardiotoxic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiotoxic effects of cocaine in an in vitro preparation devoid of sympathetic innervation. Primary cultures of rat cardiac muscle and non-muscle cells were prepared from hearts excised from 3-5-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Cultures were exposed to various cocaine concentrations (1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-3)m) for 1-24 hr. Beating activity, morphological status and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were evaluated following cocaine exposure. A decrease in the beating activity of cultured muscle cells was observed 1 hr after exposure to the highest cocaine concentrations (1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3)m) tested. Similar results were obtained 24 hr after exposure. Morphological alterations in muscle cells were evident only after exposure to the highest concentration (1 x 10(-3)m). Vacuoles appeared 1 hr after cocaine exposure and were replaced by dark granules within 24 hr. LDH release was significantly elevated in the muscle cell cultures exposed to 1 x 10(-3)m cocaine for 24 hr. The pattern of cocaine-induced morphological alterations and enzyme leakage was similar in non-muscle cells. These data suggest that cocaine induces direct toxic effects on both cardiac muscle and non-muscle cells maintained in an environment free of neuronal and hormonal influences.

Comparison of ketoconazole- and fluconazole-induced hepatotoxicity in a primary culture system of rat hepatocytes

Ketoconazole (KT) and fluconazole (FLU) are azole antifungal agents with a broad spectrum of activity against both superficial and systemic mycoses. KT is also an anticancer agent in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. In many clinical and retrospective studies, KT has been reported to cause liver damage, i.e. chemical hepatitis. Histologic analysis of KT induced hepatotoxicity shows massive centrilobular necrosis in which the hepatotoxicity was not thought to be mediated through an immunoallergic mechanism. According to the medical literature, the pattern of hepatic injury appears to be primarily of the hepatocellular type. Because of the documented reports of KT and FLU hepatotoxicity, a cytotoxicity comparison of KT and FLU was implemented. The objective of this comparison was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these azoles such that future mechanistic investigations of hepatotoxicity could be performed. The relative hepatotoxicity of KT and FLU was evaluated using primary cultures of postnatal rat hepatocytes. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the leakage of the cytosolic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), into the medium; by assessing mitochondrial reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT); by assessing lysosomal uptake of neutral red (NR); and by gross morphology (phase contrast microscopy). The cultures were exposed to various concentrations of KT (56-188 microM) for 0.5-4 h and to various concentrations of FLU (50 microM to 1.0 mM) for 0.5-6 h. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in LDH leakage and a large decrease in MTT reduction and lysosomal uptake of NR at 4 h for KT. One millimolar FLU had minimal effects on the LDH leakage and MTT reduction. These results demonstrate that KT is a more potent cytotoxicant than FLU; and its toxicity was expressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Myocyte injury by hemin

Effects of free hemin on myocardium were investigated using a model of neonatal myocyte primary cultures. Cells were subjected to free hemin at concentrations up to 20 microM and equilibrated for 5 h at 37 degrees C. Distribution of hemin in media, cell sarcolemma, and cell interior was evaluated. Time-dependent reduction in beating rate was monitored throughout the entire concentration range of administrated hemin. With time and in a hemin concentration-dependent manner, arrhythmic beatings which were followed by loss of contractility were observed. In parallel, morphologic changes appeared from granulation to complete loss of cell integrity. At the concentration range studied, hemin also induced a biphasic release of cytosolic enzymes. In the first phase, the fraction of enzyme released was dependent of the ratio of hemin:cells and was correlated with the amount of nonviable cells as monitored by a trypan blue test. In the second phase, the fraction of released enzyme was much larger than that of nonviable cells. The data are interpreted as an indication of complete loss of cytosolic content due to sarcolemma damage in first phase and partial damage to cell interior in the prolonged second phase. It is concluded that in similarity with other amphipathic molecules, free hemin is toxic to the myocardium.

Evaluation of surfactant cytotoxicity potential by primary cultures of ocular tissues: I. Characterization of rabbit corneal epithelial cells and initial injury and delayed toxicity studies

This investigation was undertaken to develop cytotoxicity assay systems using primary cultures of rabbit corneal epithelial cells as an experimental model to evaluate oculotoxic agents and the ability of these in vitro assay systems to predict irritancy potential and delayed toxicity. We have characterized the epithelial nature of the cultures by identifying keratins with antikeratin antibodies (AE1/AE3) and by demonstrating metabolic enzymes important to the integrity of the cells: lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and aldolase. Eight surfactants were compared and ranked according to their cytotoxic potential. We evaluated cytotoxicity by measuring leakage of the cytosolic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, into the medium, by making morphological observations and by assessing lysosomal neutral red uptake and mitochondrial 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction. The cells were treated for 1 h with the surfactants and the possibility of delayed toxicity was evaluated 24 h after removal of the surfactant. The cytotoxicity of the different types of surfactants as shown by all the tests was cationic > anionic = amphoteric > non-ionic. Triton X-100, a non-ionic surfactant but a severe irritant, had a ranking similar to anionic surfactants. The in vitro rankings corresponded well to reported in vivo Draize rabbit eye test data. The 24-h test for lactate dehydrogenase leakage showed that mild and non-irritating surfactants did not demonstrate any subsequent damage after a 1-h exposure, but the extreme and severe surfactants continued to show further damage after the 1-h exposure. These in vitro findings were similar to reported in vivo results. The neutral red and MTT tests did not adequately predict the prolonged toxicity of the more irritating surfactants, as was demonstrated by the lactate dehydrogenase leakage test. We conclude that in vitro cytotoxicity assays using primary cultures of rabbit corneal epithelial cells may be used to rank the cytotoxic potential of surfactants, but only the lactate dehydrogenase leakage test was able to assess prolonged cell injury.

A primary culture system of adult rat heart cells for the study of toxicologic agents

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are currently used in the treatment of mental depression and nocturnal enuresis. Clinically, these drugs are useful; however, cardiotoxicity can occur even with therapeutic dosages. For example, TCAs are known to alter myocardial function, induce arrhythmias, and produce heart block in individuals with a normal cardiovascular history. The present study was undertaken to establish a culture system of spontaneously contracting adult primary myocardial cells for toxicologic testing and to examine their contractility, morphology, and lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) after treatment with one of the most cardiotoxic TCAs, amitriptyline. Primary myocardial cell cultures were obtained from approximately 60- to 90-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. After the cells had been grown in culture for 11 days, they were treated with amitriptyline (1 x 10(-3), 1 x 10(-4), and 1 x 10(-5) M) for 2 to 24 h. The highest concentration of amitriptyline (1 x 10(-3) M) completely destroyed the cardiac muscle cells. In addition to moderate and severe vacuole, granule, and pseudopodia formation, all contractile activity was inhibited as early as 2 h after exposure to the intermediate concentration of 1 x 10(-4) M amitriptyline. Significant LDH release did not occur until 8 h after treatment with this intermediate concentration. Even though there was no significant LDH release at all 3 time points tested, there was a 50% decrease in beating activity (154 +/- 9 to 77 +/- 5 beats/min) and initiation of vacuole formation by 2 h with the lowest concentration of amitriptyline (1 x 10(-5) M). This study presents a new apparatus for the isolation of adult cardiac myocytes for the establishment of primary cell cultures for toxicologic testing. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that amitriptyline induces a concentration- and time-dependent cardiotoxic profile in a model of spontaneously contracting adult cardiac muscle cells in culture.

Effects of maternal calorie-restricted diet on development of the foetal heart, as evaluated in primary cultures of rat myocardial cells

Very-low-calorie diets have been implicated in causing ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Furthermore, studies indicate that maternal carbohydrate-restricted diets consumed during pregnancy and lactation reduce foetal growth, parturition and postnatal survival of rat pups. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a semi-purified full-calorie or 50% carbohydrate-calorie-restricted diet throughout pregnancy. The function and integrity of myocardial cell cultures obtained from 3-5-day-old offspring from both groups of dams were evaluated after a drug-induced toxic challenge. After the myocytes had been in culture for 4 days, they were exposed to various concentrations of amitriptyline (1 x 10(-3) to 1 x 10(-5) M). Morphology, beating activity, lactate dehydrogenase release, glucose utilization, beta-adrenergic receptor [125I]iodopindolol binding, and cellular adenosine triphosphate content were evaluated for 24 hr after drug exposure. There were no significant differences in morphology, beating activity or glucose utilization between the full-calorie and calorie-restricted groups. When compared with the full-calorie group, lactate dehydrogenase release from the calorie-restricted group was significantly lower at 8 hr for the untreated controls and those cells exposed to 1 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-5) M-amitriptyline. Adenosine triphosphate levels were lower in untreated controls from the calorie-restricted group when compared with the full-calorie group at 4 hr. Within the calorie-restricted group, those cultures exposed to 1 x 10(-4) M-amitriptyline had significantly depressed adenosine triphosphate levels after 8 hr of drug treatment when compared with their respective untreated controls. Finally, the calorie-restricted group had significantly increased binding affinities of beta-receptors. Thus, maternal consumption of calorie-restricted diets during pregnancy may affect the myocardial functional capacity and integrity of the offspring.

Ethanol induced morphologic alterations during growth and maturation of cardiac myocytes

Alteration of growth and development of cells exposed to ethanol during embryogenesis contributes to dysmorphism. The mechanism(s) of these alterations remains an enigma. This paper describes studies of an in vitro cardiac myocyte model in which the major effort was to investigate growth and development parameters in an obligate interacting multicellular system. The well defined events of in vitro myogenesis allow for documentation or dysgenesis and altered growth in the presence of the taratogen, ethanol. The cells exposed to ethanol did not mature morphologically or functionally compared with controls. Increasing concentrations of ethanol appear to have a graded damaging effect. The greater the concentration of ethanol the more profound the dyssynchronous growth. The morphologic correlates were multinucleation, and alteration in the ultrastructural organization of cell-cell contacts and myofilaments. Correlation of these findings with those observed in dysgenic muscle of human infants and rat pups exposed to ethanol in utero, may provide at least a partial understanding of the teratogenic manifestation of ethanol in embryogenesis and organogenesis.

The response of primary cultured adult mouse sensory neurons to ethanol, propanol, acetaldehyde and acrolein treatments

Primary cultures of adult mouse sensory neurons maintained for 8 days in vitro (8 div), in both the presence of non-neuronal cell (NNC) outgrowth and in NNC-reduced cultures, were exposed to doses of ethanol, propanol, acetaldehyde and acrolein. The effects on cell viability were monitored: LD50's of 600 microM acrolein and 100 mM propanol were obtained after 24 h exposures and after 48 h with 1 mM acetaldehyde and 500 mM ethanol. Morphological effects were evident by scanning electron microscopy with sub-acute doses for each agent, using both lower concentrations and shorter exposures. Membrane pitting of the perikaryon and a reduction in the proportion of neurons bearing neurites were common signs of toxic insult. The neurites of treated cells were thicker and more irregular than those of untreated cells; this proved a good indicator of specific neurotoxicity rather than merely a cytotoxic response. Fetal calf serum in the medium lessened the response of neurons to ethanol treatments. Comparison with other in vitro studies suggests these primary cultures are a more sensitive system than established cell lines of neuronal origin for use in neurotoxicity testing.

Cardiotoxicity of Kenyan green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom and its fractionated components in primary cultures of rat myocardial cells

The cardiotoxic actions of Kenyan green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) venom have been investigated using primary myocardial cell cultures isolated from neonatal rat hearts. The cardiotoxic actions of the whole venom and its fractionated components were evaluated on the basis of leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), changes in morphology, cell membrane lysis, decreases in viability and inhibition of spontaneous beating activity. The whole venom caused time- and concentration-dependent arrest of myocardial contraction, leakage of LDH, extensive disruption of cell monolayer, and decreases in viability. The venom was separated into 6 (DaI to DaVI) fractions by gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-50. Spontaneous beating activity was abolished by DaI to DaVI at high concentrations, while at lower doses they induced progressive depression of beating frequency after a 3-h treatment period. DaI to DaIV caused significant leakage of LDH, morphological damage, and decreases in viability after a 6-h incubation period. The most cardiotoxic fraction (DaIV), which also contains about 54% of the total protein of the whole venom, was fractionated into 18 polypeptides (Da1 to Da18) by ion exchange chromatography on Bio-Rex 70. On the basis of their ability to abolish myocardial contractility, release LDH, alter cellular structure, lyse cell membranes and reduce viability, the 18 fractions have been divided into 4 arbitrary subgroups of cytotoxins: cardiotoxins, Da1 to Da3; cardiotoxin-like polypeptides, Da4 to Da12, Da14; less active membrane lytic polypeptides, Da13, Da15 to Da17; and membrane lytic polypeptide, Da18. Marked synergistic cell membrane lysis occurred in myocardial cell cultures treated simultaneously with 2 cardiotoxin-like polypeptides, Da7 and Da11. It is suggested that the additive and synergistic cardiotoxic effects of high molecular weight cytotoxic proteins (DaI to DaIII), very low molecular weight cholinomimetic substances (DaV to DaVI) and the 4 subgroups of cardiotoxins may directly contribute to the pronounced cardiovascular problems observed in victims of green mamba bites.

Cardiotoxicity of Jamesoni's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni) venom and its fractionated components in primary cultures of rat myocardial cells

Primary cultures of spontaneously beating myocardial cells isolated from neonatal rat hearts were used to screen the cardiotoxic effects of Jamesoni's mamba (Dendroaspis jamesoni) venom and components isolated from the venom by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Cardiotoxicity was evaluated on the basis of leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), changes in morphology, cell membrane lysis, cellular viability, and alterations in spontaneous beating activity. The whole venom caused dose- and time-dependent leakage of LDH, disruption of the cell monolayer, decreases in viability, and inhibition of beating activity. Gel filtration of the venom yielded eight fractions (DjI to DjVIII). DjI (30 micrograms/ml), DjII (20 micrograms/ml), and DjV (20 micrograms/ml) caused significant (P less than 0.001) leakage of LDH, extensive morphologic damage, and decreases in viability. At lower concentrations DjI to DjVIII caused progressive inhibition of spontaneous beating activity. The main fraction (DjV), which was the most toxic, was further separated into 14 polypeptides (Dj1 to Dj14) by ion-exchange chromatography using Bio-Rex 70. Based on the ability to induce LDH leakage, produce morphologic damage, lyse cell membranes, and arrest beating activity, four categories of polypeptides were identified: cardiotoxins, Dj1 and Dj2; cardiotoxinlike polypeptides, Dj3 to Dj8; less active membrane lytic polypeptides, Dj9 to Dj13; and membrane lytic polypeptide, Dj14.

The effects of ethanol on cellular calcium content in primary myocardial cell cultures from offspring of sedentary and swim-trained pregnant rats

Primary myocardial cell cultures obtained from offspring of swim-trained (T) and sedentary (S) Sprague-Dawley rat mothers (dams) were used to evaluate the influence of exercise training and ethanol on cellular calcium (45Ca) content. The pregnant rats swam in water maintained at 37 degrees C 6 days/week during gestation. The dams swam continuously for 30 min on the first day of gestation. The swimming time was increased by 5 min until the rats swam continuously for 1.5 hr. After the cultures had been in incubation for 4 days, the cells were treated with 600, 800, and 1000 mg% ethanol for 30 min and 1 hr. 45Ca content (nmol/mg protein) of the untreated controls and all but one of the ethanol treated groups from the T cultures (1000 mg%) were significantly elevated over the comparable groups from the S cultures for both 30 min and 1 hr of incubation (p less than or equal to 0.05). The data suggest that exercise during pregnancy induces adaptations in myocardial cell cultures from the offspring such that 45Ca content levels are elevated which may provide protection against ethanol toxicity.