Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

tri-n-Butyltin: a membrane toxicant.

B H Gray1, M Porvaznik, C Flemming

  • 1Naval Dental School, NMCNCR, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-5007.

Toxicology
|December 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Tri-n-butyltin (TBT) causes red blood cell lysis by damaging the cell membrane, forming aggregates within it. Certain compounds like cyanide can worsen TBT toxicity, while others, such as British Anti-Lewisite (BAL), can inhibit it.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder following Recent Varicella Zoster Virus Infection in an 18-month-old Child: A Case Report.

Malaysian orthopaedic journal·2026
Same author

Cross-interference of rivaroxaban and enoxaparin on Berichrom anti-Xa heparin and Biophen direct Xa inhibitor assays.

International journal of laboratory hematology·2018
Same author

Acquired factor V deficiency in a patient with myeloma and amyloidosis.

Thrombosis research·2018
Same author

Indeterminate nodules in osteosarcoma: what's the follow-up?

British journal of cancer·2018
Same author

Relevance of ethnic differences in factor XIII activity on laboratory reference ranges.

International journal of laboratory hematology·2017
Same author

An Easy-To-Use Combination Four-Terminal-Pair/Two-Terminal-Pair AC Transformer Bridge.

Journal of research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology·2016

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tri-n-butyltin (TBT) is a biocidal compound used in antifouling paints, raising concerns about its toxicity.
  • Previous research suggests the cell membrane is the primary target of TBT toxicity.
  • Understanding TBT's mechanism of action is crucial due to its widespread environmental presence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying TBT-induced toxicity in cell membranes.
  • To identify cellular changes and interactions caused by TBT exposure.
  • To evaluate the effects of specific chemical agents on TBT-induced membrane damage.

Main Methods:

  • Erythrocyte suspensions were treated with varying concentrations of TBT.
  • Cell shape changes (discocyte to echinocyte) were observed using microscopy.
  • Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis were used to examine TBT-induced membrane aggregates.
  • The effects of cyanide and dimercapto compounds (BAL, DTT, DMP) on TBT-induced hemolysis were assessed.

Main Results:

  • TBT concentrations ≥ 5 µM induced TBT-induced hemolysis with sigmoidal kinetics.
  • TBT concentrations ≥ 0.1 µM caused erythrocyte shape transformation, indicating entry into the outer membrane bilayer.
  • TBT concentrations ≥ 10 µM led to the formation of tin-containing aggregates within plasma membranes.
  • Cyanide synergistically enhanced TBT-induced hemolysis, while BAL, DTT, and 2,3-dimercaptosuccinate inhibited it.

Conclusions:

  • TBT directly interacts with and damages the erythrocyte membrane, leading to hemolysis.
  • The formation of TBT-tin aggregates within the membrane is a key feature of its toxicity.
  • The molecular mechanism of TBT-induced membrane lysis involves complex interactions, potentially including ATP depletion, phospholipid delipidation, or lipid peroxidation.

Related Experiment Videos