The toxic effect of dermotrophic substances in tests in vitro.
In the model system of tissue culture, the effect of dermatotrophic substances, such as the tenzides and conservatory substances, was tested. The cytotoxic effect of the substances was evaluated according to the vitality of the cells and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the suspension culture of human lymphocytes and further according to the migration inhibition of cells from the animal spleen fragments (SF). The cells obtained from rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and man were used. The highest correlation between the concentration of the substance in the cultivation medium and its toxic effect in the culture has been proved in the tests of LDH activity from the supernatant of the human peripheral lymphocytes culture and further in the migration inhibition test from rabbit SF. Both the tests are in mutual correlation. The determination of LDH activity represents a sensitive marker of the cell damage, the least sensitive is the estimation of the cell vitality. It has been proved that the system of suspension culture of human peripheral lymphocytes and the migration inhibition test from rabbit SF is suitable for the screening determination of the effect of dermatotrophic substances. The system of tissue culture compared to classical tests of skin irritation performed in vivo secures overall objectivity in evaluating the results and the possibility of making a number of parallels without any ethical limits.