Effects of Chemical Exposure on Hepatocyte Mitochondrial Networks and Cell Viability

Document Type

Poster

Event Website

https://source2022.sched.com/

Start Date

16-5-2022

End Date

16-5-2022

Keywords

Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Mitochondria are organelles that have become more widely studied. Even though they produce energy through cellular respiration and improve cell function, they are also associated with numerous disease states. It is hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce oxidative stress which can thereby alter the shape of mitochondria and their critical role in cell viability. This study compares chemical exposure of menadione, an ROS producer, and phthalates (plasticizers) on mouse hepatocyte cells to determine their effects on mitochondrial shape and cell viability. Three experiments were performed to analyze the effects of chemical exposure: 1) WST-8 cell viability assays, 2) Cell ROX Green ROS evaluations, and 3) Fluorescence microscopy. Taken together, we found that increased ROS production from low concentrations of chemical exposure has a positive effect resulting in connected mitochondrial networks and high cell survival. However, higher ROS production, due to higher chemical concentrations, resulted in a variety of fragmented mitochondria shapes associated with dysfunction and increased cell death. The results of chemical exposure with phthalates were not similar to exposure with menadione. Instead, this chemical exposure showed lower ROS production, less variety in mitochondrial shape, and a more modest increase in cell death. Therefore, we conclude that ROS mediated the mitochondrial morphology changes associated with decreased cell viability.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Carin Thomas

Department/Program

Chemistry

Additional Mentoring Department

Chemistry

Additional Mentoring Department

Graduate Studies

Additional Files

Eaton, Bethany Anne SOURCE 2022.pptx (6301 kB)
Poster

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Effects of Chemical Exposure on Hepatocyte Mitochondrial Networks and Cell Viability

Mitochondria are organelles that have become more widely studied. Even though they produce energy through cellular respiration and improve cell function, they are also associated with numerous disease states. It is hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce oxidative stress which can thereby alter the shape of mitochondria and their critical role in cell viability. This study compares chemical exposure of menadione, an ROS producer, and phthalates (plasticizers) on mouse hepatocyte cells to determine their effects on mitochondrial shape and cell viability. Three experiments were performed to analyze the effects of chemical exposure: 1) WST-8 cell viability assays, 2) Cell ROX Green ROS evaluations, and 3) Fluorescence microscopy. Taken together, we found that increased ROS production from low concentrations of chemical exposure has a positive effect resulting in connected mitochondrial networks and high cell survival. However, higher ROS production, due to higher chemical concentrations, resulted in a variety of fragmented mitochondria shapes associated with dysfunction and increased cell death. The results of chemical exposure with phthalates were not similar to exposure with menadione. Instead, this chemical exposure showed lower ROS production, less variety in mitochondrial shape, and a more modest increase in cell death. Therefore, we conclude that ROS mediated the mitochondrial morphology changes associated with decreased cell viability.

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/COTS/39