Rapid responses of a melanophore cell line to chemical contaminants in water.

We have evaluated a Xenopus cell line as a potential sensor for detecting toxins in water. X. laevis melanophores responded rapidly by dispersing melanosomes following exposure to six (ammonia, arsenic, copper, mercury, pentachlorophenol and phenol) of 12 tested chemicals in the desired sensitivity range. For two additional chemicals (nicotine and paraquat) the melanophore response improved upon the response capabilities of several available toxicity sensors. These results suggest that a melanophore-based sensor could be useful for the rapid assessment of chemical toxicity in drinking water.