A simple cytotoxicity assay using the eucaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum.

First attempts to evaluate the potential of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as a model system for cytotoxic tests of potential drugs are described. Using the cell counter and analyser system, CASY 1, two parameters, cell count and mean cell volume, could be established as relevant parameters to estimate cytotoxicity. The effects on these two parameters of two well characterized drugs, the gentamycin analogue G418 and doxorubicin, are reported.