Probing the in vitro cytotoxicity of the veterinary drug oxytetracycline

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 14;9(7):e102334. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102334. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on the anti-oxidative defense system, the structure (hemolysis rate and morphology) and function (ATP enzyme activity) of human red blood cells (hRBCs) to investigate the possible toxic mechanism of OTC to hRBCs. The experimental results indicate that OTC can cause a decline in the function of the antioxidant defense system of hRBCs, resulting in oxidative stress. OTC can bring about morphological changes to hRBCs, and further leads to hemolysis, when the concentration of OTC is over 8×10(-5) M (about 164 µg/ml). At a low OTC concentration, below 4×10(-5) M (82 µg/ml), OTC can enhance the activity of ATP enzyme of hRBCs, known as hormesis. However, at a high concentration, above 4×10(-5) M (about 82 µg/ml), the ATP enzymatic activity was inhibited, affecting the function of hRBCs. The estalished mechanism of toxicity of OTC to hRBCs can facilitate a deeper understanding of the toxicity of OTC in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / cytology
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / enzymology
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Oxytetracycline / toxicity*
  • Toxicity Tests*
  • Veterinary Drugs / toxicity*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Veterinary Drugs
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Oxytetracycline

Grants and funding

State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, HIT (2013DX09); China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (2013M540297); Natural Scientific Research Innovation Foundation in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT.NSRIF.2014126); NSFC (21277081); The Cultivation Fund of the Key Scientific and Technical Innovation Project, Ministry of Education of China (708058); Independent innovation program of Jinan (201202083); Independent innovation foundation of Shandong University natural science projects (2012DX002). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.