Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 79 (1), 121-124 (1999)


Cytotoxic Effect of Paraquat on Rat C6 Glioma Cells: Evidence for the Possibility of Non-oxidative Damage to the Cells

Kyoji Morita (1), Itsuo Tokunaga (2) and Shin-ichi Kubo (2)


(1) Department of Pharmacology and (2) Department of Legal Medicine, Tokushima University School of Medicine, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan

Abstract: Although paraquat has been shown to cause oxidative damage to neuronal cells, little is known about its effect on glial cells. Thus the effect of paraquat on glial cells was examined using rat C6 glioma cells as a model system. Paraquat reduced cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and this toxic effect was not significantly attenuated by various kinds of antioxidants. Furthermore, paraquat failed to increase 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine formation in the cells. These results indicate that paraquat can be toxic to glial cells and suggest that this cytotoxic effect may not be associated with the oxidative damage to the cells.

Keywords: Paraquat, Cytotoxicity, Rat C6 glioma cell


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1999

[Back to TOC]