Toxicity of phthalate esters to nervous tissue in culture

Summary

DNBP markedly inhibited the outgrowth of nervous tissue and produced degenerative changes at 7.8 × 10⁻⁴M, and the minimal dose for total inhibition of nerve fibers and glial cells is at about 11.7 × 10⁻⁴M. DEP affected the outgrowth of cerebellar tissue in culture at a concentration of 2.6 × 10⁻⁴M, and strongly inhibited the outgrowth at 15.3 × 10⁻⁴M. However, complete inhibition of the outgrowth by DEP was not observed even at 25.5 × 10⁻⁴M. Degenerative changes of these fibers and cells were not apparent. Nerve fibers seemed to be more sensitive than glial cells to DEP. DMP had an adverse effect on cerebella in tissue cultures especially on nerve fibers, but it did not completely inhibit the outgrowth of the cells and fibers even at the concentration of 30.5 × 10⁻⁴M. Nerve fibers and glial cells were more sensitive than fibroblasts to DNBP and DMP. From these results, it was concluded that phthalate ester, which has a large molecular weight and low solubility in water, showed a high degree of toxicity.