In vitro cytotoxicity of heavy metals, acrylamide, and organotin salts to neural cells and fibroblasts.

The cytotoxicity of neurotoxic agents was determined for a series of brain-derived cell types and compared with their toxic effects on BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts, using the neutral red assay. Ranking of toxicants according to their potencies was the same for all cells tested and was in the order of methylmercury greater than cadmium greater than mercury greater than zinc greater than acrylamide. For a series of di- and triorganotins the ranking order was dibutyl greater than diphenyl greater than dibenzyl greater than dipropyl greater than diethyl greater than dimethyltin and triphenyl greater than tribenzyl greater than trimethyltin, respectively. The test was sensitive enough to detect structure activity relationships between the degree of toxicity and the hydrophobic characteristics of the agents tested.