Assessment of pesticides cytoxicity by means of bioelectric profiling of mammalian cells

•Each cell type shows a unique bioelectric pattern against different pesticide groups.•The bioelectric profiling of cells can be used as rapid assay for pesticide toxicity.•The advantage of cells is the ability to respond to an extended range of toxicants.

In the present study an innovative tool was performed for assessing pesticide cytoxicity of different pesticide groups by using the bioelectric response patterns of neuroblastoma and fibroblast cell lines. Two different modes of monitoring the bioelectric response, potentiometry and amperometry, were applied in cell suspensions exposed to the pesticides. A unique pattern for each cell type was observed depending on the mode of measurement and the pesticide group. The results with amperometry were more reproducible than potentiometry. The general results of the study demonstrate the possibility of using bioelectric profiling as an approach for developing novel cytoxicity assays with the advantage of high speed and the ability to respond to an extended range of toxicants.

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