Detection and quantification of maitotoxin-like compounds using a neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cell based assay. Application to the screening of maitotoxin-like compounds in Gambierdiscus spp.

Abstract SK&F 96365 was used in a Neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cell based assay to determine the production of maitotoxin-like (MTX-like) compounds in two strains of Gambierdiscus spp. A 2.5 hour assay was effective for the detection of the MTX-induced toxic effects with a concentration that inhibited 50% cell viability (IC 50 ) equivalent to 3.38 nM MTX. Evidence was found for the production of MTX-like compounds in both Gambierdiscus strains studied at concentrations of 404 and 36.7 nmoles MTX equivalence per 10 6 cells. The assay is proposed as an efficient approach to the detection and quantification of MTX-like compounds in Gambierdiscus spp.