Glutamic Acid Uptake Inhibition Assay in Cultured Hep G2 Cells as an Alternative Method for Evaluating Potential In Vivo Eye Irritation

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Abstract
Glutamic acid (GA) content was measured in cultured Hep G2 cells, after treatment of the cells with test compounds. The results with 37 chemicals were compared with their respective rabbit eye irritation data, of which 17 were determined according to the OECD test, and the other 20 in range-finding studies. The chemicals were mainly organic solvents (alcohols, esters, amines, acids and others). The xenobiotics were applied to the cells for 4 hours at 5 different concentrations. The cells were then incubated for 15 minutes with tritiated GA. GA uptake inhibition was measured by liquid scintillation counting, and the results were expressed as the GI50 value, which is the concentration of test compound required to induce a 50% reduction in GA uptake. A linear correlation coefficient r = 0.66 was found between the log GI50 and the mean corneal opacity scores. This value is comparable to that obtained in total protein and uridine uptake inhibition studies. However, r = 0.81 was found when the log GI50 was compared with range-finding scores, indicating that a closer relationship exists between cytotoxicity and the latter.