Toxicity of Malathion and Mercaptosuccinate to Growth of Chick Embryo Cells in vitro ∗

Abstract

Summary

The growth of primary cultures of chick embryo cells was examined in the presence of the organophosphorus insecticide, malathion, and several of its molecular fragments, mercaptosuccinate, malate, succinate and their diethylesters. The results showed that malathion was toxic to the growth of the cells in concentrations as low as 3 × 10^-6 M, mercaptosuccinate inhibited cell growth in concentrations as low as 3 × 10^-5 M, and that malate, succinate and their diethylesters had no effect on the growth of the cells in concentrations as high as 1.5 × 10^-4 M. The inhibitions of cell growth obtained with malathion and mercaptosuccinate were first evident 24 hours after the compounds were added to the cultures. The implications of these results with respect to the actions of insecticides on cells and tissues are discussed.