Assessment of Potential Neurotoxic Actions of Organoarsenic Compounds Using Human Neuroblastoma NB-1 Cells and Rat Cerebellar Neurons in Primary Culture

Abstract

The potential neurotoxic effects of diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) was investigated using two in vitro assay systems, since DPAA could be formed from phenylarsenic compounds as chemical warfare agents in the environment and pose potential health risks to the population using ground water contaminated with DPAA as a source for drinking water. DPAA showed inhibitory effects on the neurite extension in human neuroblastoma NB-1 cells similar to that of methylmercury, although it required a several hundred times higher dose than that of methylmercury. In addition, DPAA affected the expression and localization of 440-kDa ankyrin_B, a neuron-specific marker protein, in rat cerebellar neurons in primary culture. These results suggest that DPAA may have weak neurotoxic actions similar to those of methylmercury, even though it requires a 1000 times higher dose than methylmercury.