Effects of organophosphates on cell proliferation and 45Ca uptake of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of cytotoxic effects of the organophosphates (OPs) with delayed neurotoxicity on human neuroblastoma cells. METHODS: The proliferation of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was determined by MTT spectrometry. (45)Ca uptake was determined by adding (45)CaCl(2) and tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) or methamidophos into the cultured medium for the SH-SY5Y cells. The cells were incubated and then lysed and finally counted in a Beckman LS 6000 liquid scintillation spectrometer. RESULTS: Methamidophos stimulated the cell proliferation of SH-SY5Y at its lower concentrations (7 x 10(-7) mol/L to 7 x 10(-6) mol/L), with an increase by 28% at 7 x 10(-7) mol/L; however, it inhibited the proliferation at higher ones (7 x 10(-4) mol/L to 7 x 10(-3) mol/L) with 62% inhibition at 7 x 10(-3) mol/L. TOCP only inhibited the cell proliferation at high concentration (with 34% inhibition at 7 x 10(-3) mol/L) and markedly inhibited calcium uptake of the cells up to 55% at higher concentrations (1 x 10(-6) mol/L to 1 x 10(-4) mol/L); while the uptake was stimulated by OPs up to 241% of increase at lower concentrations (1 x 10(-9) mol/L to 1 x 10(-7) mol/L). CONCLUSION: The interference of growth in nerve cells and disturbance of calcium homeostasis may be involved in the mechanisms of neurotoxicity of OPs.