Cytomorphological changes in liver cells exposed to allyl and benzyl isothiocyanate and their cysteine and glutathione conjugates.

Since allyl isothiocyanate has been reported to be a bladder carcinogen and benzyl isothiocyanate is a known anti-carcinogen, it is important to know the mode of their cytotoxic action. This was investigated in a RL-4 hepatocyte cell line by studying the morphological effects of increasing concentrations of the isothiocyanates and their glutathione and cysteine conjugates. These effects were compared with those induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide which supposedly has its primary effect upon the cytosolic glutathione status and thus upon the integrity of Ca2+-sequestrating mitochondria. The results agree with the previously postulated role of conjugation in the exposure of cells to isothiocyanates: Conjugates show effects similar to those produced by the free parent compounds because conjugates release free isothiocyanates in aqueous solution. The cytomorphological effects increase in a more or less dose-dependent manner with increasing concentrations of isothiocyanate or exposure time. Probably due to increased exposure, suspended RL-4 cells are more sensitive to the toxic action than cells growing on a substrate. No qualitative differences were found between the effects of allyl and benzyl isothiocyanate, indicating that their different effects in vivo are perhaps related to organ-specific differences in equilibrium between the conjugated and unconjugated forms of the test substances. The first cytomorphological effects of isothiocyanates consist of surface blebbing (zeiosis) and swelling of dictyosomal cisternae. At higher concentrations swelling extends to vesicles of endoplasmic reticulum. Mitochondria are not affected until the cells reach the necrotic phase of injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)