EVALUATION OF CYTOTOXICITY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS IN POECILIA RETICULATA CAUDAL FIBROBLAST CELL CULTURE EXPOSED TO DIMETHYL PHTHALATE (DMP)

Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is one of the widely used phthalates which could cause environmental pollution due to widespread use of plastics. DMP poses potential toxicity risk for environment and human health. However, risk analysis of DMP as an environmental contaminant and toxicological effects of DMP on aquatic habitats have not been adequately evaluated. In recent years, in vitro test using cell lines are widely used in toxicological evaluations and risk analysis of environmental pollutants. In this study, cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activities and relative gene expressions were investigated in Poecilia reticulata caudal fibroblast cells exposed to DMP. In our study it is found that lethal concentrations (LC50) of DMP for cells after 24 and 48 h of exposure were 0,33 and 0,34 mM. Cells were exposed to three different concentrations of DMP (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mM) for 24 and 48 h to investigate oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression. In all experimental groups MDA content was increased. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in low and medium concentration when compared to control groups but decreased at high concentrations after exposure of DMP for 24 and 48h. The Catalase (CAT) activities increased in low and middle concentration groups but reduced in high concentration groups after 24 and 48 h DMP exposure but glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities were increased all experimental groups. In addition gene expressions of these enzymes were found to be associated with enzyme activities in all experimental groups. All findings indicate that DMP could cause physiological effects and cellular damage in Poecilia reticulata caudal fibroblast cells by causing oxidative damage and disturbing the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes. The results might contribute to the identification of biomarkers to monitor phthalate pollution and in vitro methods could be used to evaluate the effects of DMP in aquatic habitats.