Relevance. Special attention of researchers is attracted by zeolites — minerals of the family of aluminosilicates of alkaline and alkaline earth metals. Considering that the composition of zeolites is extremely variable, including the content of trace elements, most zeolite tuffs of Russian Federationare not evaluated in terms of possible cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to characterize the cytotoxicity of native clinoptilolite against epithelial cells of cattle.Methods. To characterize cytotoxicity, 5 fractions of native clinoptilolite (mining quarry — Drozhzhanovsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan) with particle sizes were selected: No. 1 — 0.2 mm, No. 2 — 0.24 mm, No. 3 — 0.8 mm, No. 4 — 0,8–2,5 mm, No. 5 — 2,5–5,0 mm. Two transferable cell lines were selected as models for determining the toxicity of zeolites: LEK (epithelium of the lung of a cow embryo) and TR (tracheal epithelium of a cow embryo) obtained from a Collection of vertebrate cell cultures (ICiG RAS, Russia). MTTtestwas carried out. Cell viability was assessed by the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenase according to a standard method. Statistical data processing was performed using “GraphPad Prism 6.0” software (USA). The experiments were carried out in 5 repetitions, p ≤ 0.05 was taken as a statistically reliable level.Results. It was found that concentrations up to 300 micrograms/mlof all fractions of zeolites do not have a cytotoxic effect on the studied cells. The cytopathogenic effect manifests itself in the concentration range of 400-1000 micrograms/ml and is in direct correlation with the size of zeolite particles — the proportion of cells in the state of apoptosis is up to 35.23±2.3%, which is probably due to the mechanical effect of large particles of the rocks in question on cellular structures. Information about the cytotoxic effects of different types of zeolites on the cells of the body of productive animals will later form the basis of their toxicological assessment and will allow us to develop a strategy for their safe use.
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