The Use of Physarum for Testing of Toxicity/Mutagenicity
Abstract
Growing and differentiating cultures of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, have been investigated for possible use in testing for toxicity of several fuels--hydrazine, ethanol and hydrocarbons. Testing protocols were based on several already in the literature. Effects on growth were studied via inhibition of microplasmodial growth (Becker et al., Cancer Res. 23, 1910, 1963) and effects on differentiation by inhibition of (or interference with) plasmodial sporulation (Sauer et al., Exptl, Cell Res. 57, 319; 1969) and of amoebal flagellation (Mir and Wright, Microbios. Lett. 5, 39, 1978). Effects on growth of microplasmodia were expressed as ED50 values, calculated from spectrophotometric measurements of while culture protein, DNA or pigment. ED50S (protein data) for hydrazine.2 HC1 and ethanol were 40 ug/ml and 1.5% (v/v), respectively. Short, straight chain, even numbered hydrocarbons (C6 - C10) at 1% completely stopped microplasmodial growth. The C12 - C16 hydrocarbons at the same concentration did not inhibit growth and may have served as a carbon source, since they seemed to have a glucose-sparing effect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA142022
Entities
People
- Joyce Mohberg
Organizations
- Governors State University