Relationship between surface activity and toxicity to Chang liver cultures of tricyclic antidepressants.

Chang liver cell cultures were exposed to the tricyclic antidepressants, chlorimipramine (CIM), nortriptyline (NT), amitriptyline (AT), imipramine (IM), and dosepin (DOX). Loss of enzymes into surrounding media and cytopathic changes were used to quantitate cytotoxicity. Time- and concentration-related cytotoxic effects were evident for all drugs. The order of cytotoxic potency was CIM greater than NT greater than AT greater than IM greater than DOX. All tricyclic antidepressants tested lowered the surface tension of the salt solution contained in the tissue culture media and the order of their surface activity was identical to that of their cytotoxicity. It is postulated that the cellular toxicity induced by tricyclic antidepressants in vitro is related to a function of their surface activity.