ATLA::Alternatives to Laboratory Animals

Volume 30, Number 2

Two in vitro models for gas-phase exposure to volatile compounds.

Paola Bonsi,¹ Flavia Zucco² And Annalaura Stammati¹

¹Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Laboratorio di Tossicologia Comparata ed Ecotossicologia, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; ²Istituto di Neurobiologia e Medicina Molecolare, CNR, Viale Marx 15-43, 00137 Rome, Italy

SUMMARY

Two experimental models suitable for the screening of volatile compounds were set up. The first consisted of a glass chamber-slide with eight wells, one carrying the test compound, and the others carrying cells in monolayers, in the second model, the cells were cultured in a glass Petri dish, and the test compound was poured onto a filter lying on a glass cover-slip, supported by a metal ring. Four plant volatiles [carvacrol, S-(+)-carvone, thymol and decanal] and one essential oil (caraway oil) were chosen as test compounds. The toxicity rankings obtained with the two models were compared with that obtained in a previous study performed with the same compounds under conventional culture conditions. Differences in the toxicity ranking were observed between the conventional culture conditions and the gasphase models, confirming the importance of correct exposure conditions for the evaluation of toxicity. Both models have advantages that make them suitable as a preliminary step in the toxicity screening of volatile compounds, or for use in a test battery when combined with conventional approaches.

Keywords: cell cultures, exposure conditions, volatiles