Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1931. / Lithoprinted. "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago Libraries, Chicago, Illinois."

Sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride are two widespread environmental toxicants which have deleterious effects on living organisms. At the cellular level, sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride cause oxidative stress, dysregulation of gene expression, apoptosis, and the unfolding of protein. Furthermore, both chemical stressors individually have the ability to induce heat shock protein (HSP) accumulation. HSPs are molecular chaperones that aid in protein folding, translocation and in preventing stress-induced protein aggregation. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that treatment of A6 kidney epithelial cells of the frog Xenopus laevis, with either cadmium chloride or sodium arsenite plus a concurrent mild heat shock resulted in an enhanced accumulation of HSPs that was greater than found with the sum of the individual stressors. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available to date on the effect that these two chemical stressors have in combination on HSP accumulation in aquatic organisms. The present study examined the effect of simultaneous sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride treatment on the pattern of HSP30 and HSP70 accumulation in Xenopus A6 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the relative levels of HSP30 and HSP70 accumulation in A6 cells treated concurrently with sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride for 12 h were significantly higher than the sum of HSP30 or HSP70 accumulation from cells subjected to the treatments individually. For instance, the combined 10 µM sodium arsenite plus 100 µM cadmium chloride treatment resulted in a 3.5 fold increase in HSP30 accumulation and a 2.5 fold increase in HSP70 accumulation compared to the sum of the stressors individually. This finding suggested a synergistic action between the two stressors. Pretreatment of cells with KNK437, an HSF1 inhibitor, inhibited the combined sodium arsenite- and cadmium chloride-induced accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70 suggesting that this accumulation of HSPs may be regulated, at least in part, at the level of transcription. Immunocytochemical analysis employing the use of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) revealed that simultaneous treatment of cells with the two stressors induced HSP30 accumulation primarily in the cytoplasm in a punctate pattern with some dysregulation of F-actin structure. Increased ubiquitinated protein accumulation was observed with combined 10 µM sodium arsenite and 10, 50 or 100 µM cadmium chloride treatment compared to individual stressors suggesting an impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system. Finally, while incubation of A6 cells with 1 µM sodium arsenite plus 10 µM cadmium chloride did not induce a detectable accumulation of HSPs, the addition of a 30 °C mild heat shock resulted in a strong accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70. This study has demonstrated that concurrent sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride treatment can enhance HSP accumulation. Since HSP accumulation is triggered by proteotoxic stress, these findings are relevant given the fact that aquatic amphibians in their natural habitat may be exposed to multiple chemical stressors simultaneously.

Sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride are two widespread environmental toxicants which have deleterious effects on living organisms. At the cellular level, sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride cause oxidative stress, dysregulation of gene expression, apoptosis, and the unfolding of protein. Furthermore, both chemical stressors individually have the ability to induce heat shock protein (HSP) accumulation. HSPs are molecular chaperones that aid in protein folding, translocation and in preventing stress-induced protein aggregation. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that treatment of A6 kidney epithelial cells of the frog Xenopus laevis, with either cadmium chloride or sodium arsenite plus a concurrent mild heat shock resulted in an enhanced accumulation of HSPs that was greater than found with the sum of the individual stressors. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available to date on the effect that these two chemical stressors have in combination on HSP accumulation in aquatic organisms. The present study examined the effect of simultaneous sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride treatment on the pattern of HSP30 and HSP70 accumulation in Xenopus A6 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the relative levels of HSP30 and HSP70 accumulation in A6 cells treated concurrently with sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride for 12 h were significantly higher than the sum of HSP30 or HSP70 accumulation from cells subjected to the treatments individually. For instance, the combined 10 µM sodium arsenite plus 100 µM cadmium chloride treatment resulted in a 3.5 fold increase in HSP30 accumulation and a 2.5 fold increase in HSP70 accumulation compared to the sum of the stressors individually. This finding suggested a synergistic action between the two stressors. Pretreatment of cells with KNK437, an HSF1 inhibitor, inhibited the combined sodium arsenite- and cadmium chloride-induced accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70 suggesting that this accumulation of HSPs may be regulated, at least in part, at the level of transcription. Immunocytochemical analysis employing the use of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) revealed that simultaneous treatment of cells with the two stressors induced HSP30 accumulation primarily in the cytoplasm in a punctate pattern with some dysregulation of F-actin structure. Increased ubiquitinated protein accumulation was observed with combined 10 µM sodium arsenite and 10, 50 or 100 µM cadmium chloride treatment compared to individual stressors suggesting an impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system. Finally, while incubation of A6 cells with 1 µM sodium arsenite plus 10 µM cadmium chloride did not induce a detectable accumulation of HSPs, the addition of a 30 °C mild heat shock resulted in a strong accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70. This study has demonstrated that concurrent sodium arsenite and cadmium chloride treatment can enhance HSP accumulation. Since HSP accumulation is triggered by proteotoxic stress, these findings are relevant given the fact that aquatic amphibians in their natural habitat may be exposed to multiple chemical stressors simultaneously.

Mémoire (M.Ress.Renouv.)-- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1993. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) pioneered by Giaever and Keese is suitable for continuous, automatic and real-time cell attachment analysis. ECIS is a novel electrical method to study, in real time, many of the activities of animal cells when grown in tissue culture. These include morphological changes, cell locomotion, and other behaviors directed by the cell's cytoskeleton. One of the most direct ECIS measurements is that of the attachment and spreading behaviors of cells. These measurements allow one to study and quantify the interaction of cultured cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and other macromolecules continuously and in real time. Traditionally, cell attachment and spreading measurements are labor intensive, requiring many manipulations of the cultures for microscopic evaluation of cell behavior. With ECIS, these same measurements can be made in an automated approach without opening the door of the incubator. The ECIS core technology is based on a technique of measuring the change in impedance of a small electrode to AC current flow. The heart of the measurement is a specialized slide that has 8 individual wells for cell culturing. The base of the device has an array of gold film electrodes that connect to the ECIS electronics to each of the 8 wells. In our work we used ECIS to study the attachment and spread of HUVEC and 3T3 cells. The curve of HUVEC showed higher resistances than that of 3T3 cells. This was due to the fact we used gelatin to aid in attachment of HUVECs which accounted for the high resistances. 3T3 cells attached easily without help of gelatin. We also studied the cytotoxicity of HUVEC and 3T3 cells. The drugs that we used were CB, H7 and CdCl2. We found that the best drug was CB since it affected the cells even at low concentrations. H7 effects were mild while CdCl2 only worked at high concentrations. HUVEC cells make loose contact on electrodes and are easily detached by drugs. 3T3 makes firm at tachment to the electrodes and are not easily detached from the electrodes. Electrical impedance measurements on multiple electrodes are highly attractive in this application because of the potential for direct computer control.

Orientador: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T10:44:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Yano_ClaudiaLumy_D.pdf: 4912629 bytes, checksum: 823824d694d0140eada41a1aa8e689a5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Metais pesados como o cádmio são considerados agentes tóxicos devido sua extensiva utilização nas indústrias e agropecuária e, como conseqüência, são amplamente dispersados no meio ambiente. No entanto, o cádmio tem sido foco, também, de inúmeras pesquisas relacionadas a exposição humana e suas conseqüências patológicas como o câncer. Estudos, claramente, caracterizam as relações de tumor de pulmão com a inalação do cádmio e mostram a possível participação deste metal tanto na iniciação quanto na progressão tumoral. Por outro lado, são raros os relatos da literatura envolvendo o mecanismo de ação do cádmio em tecido muscular, uma vez que já foi observado acúmulo desse metal em musculatura esquelética de animais. A administração do cloreto de cádmio, metal pesado designado como carcinogênico, em linhagem de células musculares esqueléticas C2C12 promoveu lesões consistentes com estresse oxidativo, observado pela diminuição da viabilidade celular, aumento da peroxidação de lipídios (conteúdo de malondialdeído) e conseqüente diminuição da enzima antioxidante glutationa transferase (GST). O estresse oxidativo, possivelmente, alterou a adesão celular e, conseqüentemente, houve retração dos miotúbulos, observada através de microscopia de luz e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (Capítulo I- Trabalho publicado no periódico Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2005). A atenuação das lesões promovidas pelo cloreto de cádmio em linhagem de células C2C12 foi verificada com o pré-tratamento com o sulfato de zinco antecedendo o tratamento com cloreto de cádmio. Os efeitos protetores foram observados através da preservação da viabilidade celular, da GST, e diminuição do conteúdo de malondialdeído. A ação protetora foi verificada, também, na maior preservação da adesão celular, principalmente, contra as maiores concentrações de cádmio (Capítulo II- Trabalho a ser submetido ao periódico Free Radical Biology & Medicine). Por outro lado, a exposição crônica de células tumorais, linhagem de adenocarcinoma de cólon MAC13, ao cloreto de cádmio promoveu alterações morfológicas associadas ao aumento da atividade mitocondrial, interferência quanto à atividade lisossomal e diminuição da viabilidade celular, principalmente, na maior concentração de cádmio, após 24hs de exposição (Capítulo III- Trabalho a ser submetido ao periódico International Journal of Cancer) / Abstract: The heavy metals as cadmium are a toxic agent since it is extensively utilized in industry and can be amply distributed in environment. The cadmium is research focused as its pathological consequences in human exposure as it has been classified as carcinogenic agent. This fact is evident since the cadmium inhalation can be related to lung tumour and many studies show the possible participation of the cadmium on tumoral cells initiation and progression. However, few studies observed that cadmium can be accumulated in animal skeletal muscle cells and its action mechanisms are not completed known. The cadmium chloride exposure promoted oxidative stress and morphologic changes in C2C12 myotubes cell, in vitro, associated to decrease on cellular viability, high lipid peroxidation (increase on malondialdehyde content, MDA) and decrease on glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. The cadmium chloride produced chances on the cellular adhesion, integrity and retraction in C2C12 myotubes cells. These effects could be attenuated by zinc sulphate pre-treatment, which maintained the cellular viability, GST activity, reducing the MDA content. The zinc sulphate pre-treatment preserved the cellular adhesion, especially in high cadmium chloride concentration. Additionally, the tumoral cells (colon adenocarcinoma MAC 13) chronically exposed to cadmium chloride showed increase on the mitochondrial activity, and reduction on lysosomal and cellular viability, especially at high cadmium chloride concentration after 24h of treatment, probably indicating the tumoral cell changes / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / We investigated the action of butane-2,3-dione thiosemicarbazone oxime against the testicular damage caused by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in mice swiss adult male. The animals received a single injection of CdCl2 at the dose of 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, and after thirty minutes, the oxime was administered subcutaneously at the dose of 10 mg/kg. Twenty four hours after administration of the oxime, the animals were euthanized the blood were collected and after killed the testes were removed for analysis. The parameters determined were δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, in testicular tissue. The levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), nonprotein thiols (NPSH), ascorbic acid and the quantity of cadmium in testes were also evaluated. In addition, levels of testosterone in serum and cytokines (proinflammatory, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and anti-inflammatory IL-10) were determined. Histological analysis of testicular tissue was also performed. Our results demonstrated that the oxime was effective in restoring partially the inhibition in δ-ALA-D activity induced by CdCl2. The activation of MPO and increase in IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels induced by CdCl2 were also reduced by oxime. IL-10, which was reduced by cadmium, was partially restored by oxime administration. In addition, the oxime was effective in restoring the increase in TBARS levels and partially the reduction on NPSH levels induced by CdCl2. However, the oxime did not have action on the decreased levels of ascorbic acid induced by CdCl2 or on the decrease in enzymatic activity of GST and the increased enzymatic activity of GPx caused by CdCl2. Our results demonstrated that oxime was effective in restoring the histological alterations induced by CdCl2, preventing the loss of elongated spermatids. In addition, oxime was able to increase the testosterone levels reduced by cadmium exposure. In conclusion, the oxime tested was effective in reducing the testicular damage induced by CdCl2 in mice. The beneficial effects of this oxime are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. / Investigamos a ação da oxima butano-2,3-dionatiossemicarbazona contra o dano testicular causado por cloreto de cádmio (CdCl2) em camundongos swiss adultos machos. Os animais receberam uma única injeção de CdCl2 na dose de 5mg/kg, intraperitonialmente e, após trinta minutos, foi administrada a oxima subcutâneamente na dose de 10 mg/kg. Vinte quarto horas após a administração da oxima, os animais foram anestesiados o sangue foi coletado, após a eutanásia tiveram os testículos removidos para as análises. Os parâmetros determinados foram as atividades das enzimas δ-aminolevulinato desidratase (δ-ALA-D), mieloperoxidase (MPO), glutationa-S-transferase (GST) e glutationa peroxidase (GPx), no tecido testicular. Os níveis de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), tióis não protéicos (NPSH), ácido ascórbico e quantidade presente de cádmio nos testículos também foram avaliados. Além dos níveis de testosterona no soro, onde também se quantificou as citocinas (pró-inflamatórias IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ e anti-inflamatória, IL-10). Também foi realizada a análise histológica de tecido testicular. Nossos resultados demonstraram que a oxima foi efetiva em restaurar parcialmente a inibição da atividade da enzima δ-ALA-D induzida por CdCl2. A ativação da MPO e o aumento dos níveis de IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α e IFN-γ induzidos por CdCl2 também foram reduzidos pela oxima. A IL-10, que foi reduzida pelo cádmio, teve seus níveis restaurados parcialmente pela oxima. Além disso, a oxima foi efetiva em restaurar o aumento nos níveis de TBARS e parcialmente a redução nos níveis de NPSH induzidos pelo CdCl2. Porém, não teve ação sobre a queda dos níveis de ácido ascórbico provocado pelo CdCl2, nem sobre a diminuição da atividade enzimática da GST e sobre o aumento da atividade enzimática da GPx causados pelo CdCl2. Nossos resultados demonstraram que a oxima foi efetiva em conter as alterações histológicas causadas pelo CdCl2, prevenindo a perda de espermátides alongadas. A oxima também foi capaz de aumentar os níveis de testosterona reduzidos pela exposição ao cádmio. Em conclusão, a oxima testada foi efetiva em reduzir os danos testiculares induzidos pelo CdCl2. Os efeitos benéficos desta oxima estão relacionados às suas propriedades antioxidantes e sua ação anti-inflamatória.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms respond to various stresses with the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs are molecular chaperones that bind to unfolded proteins and inhibit their aggregation as well as maintaining their solubility until they can be refolded to their original conformation. Stress-inducible hsp gene transcription is mediated by the heat shock element (HSE), which interacts with heat shock transcription factor (HSF). In this study, we examined the effect of KNK437 (N-formyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-benzylidene-g-butyrolactam), a benzylidene lactam compound, on heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A-induced hsp gene expression in Xenopus laevis A6 kidney epithelial cells. In studies limited to mammalian cultured cells, KNK437 has been shown to inhibit HSE-HSF1 binding activity and stress-induced hsp gene expression. In the present study, western and northern blot analysis revealed that exposure of A6 cells to heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A induced the accumulation of HSP30 protein and hsp30 mRNA, respectively. Western blot analysis also determined that exposure of A6 cells to heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A induced the accumulation of HSP70 protein. Pre-treatment of A6 cells with 100 µM KNK437 inhibited stress-induced hsp30 mRNA as well as HSP30 and HSP70 protein accumulation. Immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to confirm the results gained from western blot analysis as well as determine the localization of HSP30 accumulation in A6 cells. A 2 h heat shock at 33°C resulted in the accumulation of HSP30 in the mostly in the cytoplasm with a small amount in the nucleus. Heat shock at 35°C resulted in substantial HSP30 accumulation in the nucleus. This is in contrast with A6 cells treated for 14 h with 10 µM sodium arsenite, 100 µM cadmium chloride and 1 µg/mL herbimycin A, where HSP30 accumulation was found only in the cytoplasm and not in the nucleus. A 6 h pre-treatment with 100 µM KNK437 completely inhibited the accumulation of HSP30 in A6 cells heat shocked at 33 or 35°C as well as cells treated with 1 µg/mL herbimycin A. The same pre-treatment with KNK437 resulted in a 97-100% decrease in HSP30 accumulation in A6 cells treated with 10 µM sodium arsenite or 100 µM cadmium chloride. These results show that KNK437 is effective at inhibiting both heat shock and chemical induced hsp gene expression in amphibian cells.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms respond to various stresses with the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs are molecular chaperones that bind to unfolded proteins and inhibit their aggregation as well as maintaining their solubility until they can be refolded to their original conformation. Stress-inducible hsp gene transcription is mediated by the heat shock element (HSE), which interacts with heat shock transcription factor (HSF). In this study, we examined the effect of KNK437 (N-formyl-3,4-methylenedioxy-benzylidene-g-butyrolactam), a benzylidene lactam compound, on heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A-induced hsp gene expression in Xenopus laevis A6 kidney epithelial cells. In studies limited to mammalian cultured cells, KNK437 has been shown to inhibit HSE-HSF1 binding activity and stress-induced hsp gene expression. In the present study, western and northern blot analysis revealed that exposure of A6 cells to heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A induced the accumulation of HSP30 protein and hsp30 mRNA, respectively. Western blot analysis also determined that exposure of A6 cells to heat shock, sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride and herbimycin A induced the accumulation of HSP70 protein. Pre-treatment of A6 cells with 100 µM KNK437 inhibited stress-induced hsp30 mRNA as well as HSP30 and HSP70 protein accumulation. Immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to confirm the results gained from western blot analysis as well as determine the localization of HSP30 accumulation in A6 cells. A 2 h heat shock at 33°C resulted in the accumulation of HSP30 in the mostly in the cytoplasm with a small amount in the nucleus. Heat shock at 35°C resulted in substantial HSP30 accumulation in the nucleus. This is in contrast with A6 cells treated for 14 h with 10 µM sodium arsenite, 100 µM cadmium chloride and 1 µg/mL herbimycin A, where HSP30 accumulation was found only in the cytoplasm and not in the nucleus. A 6 h pre-treatment with 100 µM KNK437 completely inhibited the accumulation of HSP30 in A6 cells heat shocked at 33 or 35°C as well as cells treated with 1 µg/mL herbimycin A. The same pre-treatment with KNK437 resulted in a 97-100% decrease in HSP30 accumulation in A6 cells treated with 10 µM sodium arsenite or 100 µM cadmium chloride. These results show that KNK437 is effective at inhibiting both heat shock and chemical induced hsp gene expression in amphibian cells.

Biotests sind für die toxikologische Bewertung von Chemikalien, Pflanzenschutzmitteln und schadstoffbelasteten Gewässern oder Böden von besonderer Bedeutung, da sie Auskünfte über die biologische Wirksamkeit eines Stoffes auf Organismen geben. Bislang gibt es für die ökotoxikologische Bewertung, insbesondere von Chemikalien und Pflanzenschutzmitteln, für die autotrophe Organismenebene neben verschiedenen Biotests mit höheren Pflanzen den DIN 28 692 Biotest "Wachstumshemmtest mit den Süßwasseralgen Scenedesmus subspicatus und Selenastrum capricornutum", der auch als OECD 201 Biotest "Algal, Growth Inhibition Test" vorliegt. Dieser aquatische Biotest wird nur mit einer Süßwasseralgenart durchgeführt und trotzdem zunehmend für die Bewertung von belasteten Böden und Sedimenten eingesetzt. Untersuchungen über aquatische Biotests, die Bodenalgen als Testorganismen nutzen, oder Boden-Biotests mit Bodenalgen gibt es nur vereinzelt. Ein Biotestsystem, das sowohl aus einem aquatischen als auch aus einem terrestrischen Biotest besteht und mehrere Bodenalgenarten als Testorganismen nutzt, existiert bisher nicht. Dieses wurde in vorliegender Arbeit entwickelt und an dem Schwermetall Cadmium als Cadmiumchlorid und dem Herbizid Arelon, Wirkstoff Isoproturon erprobt. Um Bodenalgen, die keine Resistenzen oder Toleranzen gegenüber Schadstoffen aufweisen, als Testorganismen nutzen zu können, wurden aus unbelasteten Böden Algen isoliert, Klonkulturen erstellt und die Arten bestimmt. Dies führte zu einer Sammlung mit 35 Algenarten. Aus den in die Bodenalgensammlung aufgenommenen Arten wurden Xanthonema tribonematoides, Stichococcus bacillaris, Klebsormidium flaccidum, Xanthonema montanum und Chlamydomonas noctigama für das Testsystem ausgewählt. Zusätzlich zu diesen wurde die Süßwasseralge Scenedesmus subspicatus als Referenzalge ausgewählt. Mit diesen Algen wurde der Gel-Biotest, bestehend aus einem flüssigen gelartigen Medium, das die Kontaminationspfade im Wasser nachbildet, und ein Boden-Biotest mit einem naturnahen sorptionsschwachen Boden entwickelt, der die Kontaminationspfade über Gas-, Wasser- und Festphase im Boden nachbildet. Bei der Erprobung dieses Biotestsystems mit Cadmiumchlorid und Isoproturon zeigte sich, daß Bodenalgen gegenüber Cadmiumchlorid im Gel-Biotest eine geringe bis mittlere Sensibilität aufwiesen. Im Boden-Biotest lag eine sehr geringe Sensibilität vor, wie dies auch bei anderen Bodenorganismengruppen in Biotests festgestellt wurde. Dies kann mit der Sorption der Cadmiumionen im Boden erklärt werden und dem damit geringen für die Organismen bioverfügbaren Cadmiumionenanteil. Für Isoproturon lag sowohl im Gel- als auch im Boden-Biotest eine hohe Sensibilität der Bodenalgen vor. Erstaunlich war, daß die Sensibilität in beiden Biotests nahezu identisch war, obwohl Isoproturon in sorptionsschwachen Böden zu ca. 30 % adsorbiert wird. Im Vergleich zur Sensibilität von Scenedesmus subspicatus waren die Bodenalgen bei Cadmiumchlorid bis auf zwei Ausnahmen um den Faktor 5 bis 10 unsensibler. Die Bodenalge Klebsormidium flaccidum besaß eine vergleichbare Sensibilität und Xanthonema montanum war um den Faktor 20 unsensibler. Für Isoproturon konnten keine Unterschiede in der Sensibilität zwischen Scenedesmus subspicatus und den geprüften Bodenalgen ermittelt werden, außer bei Stichococcus bacillaris, die um den Faktor 5 unempfindlicher war. Das entwickelte miniaturisierte Biotestsystem eignet sich dazu, differenzierte Aussagen über das ökotoxische Potential von Stoffen auf Bodenalgen und der Süßwasseralge Scenedesmus subspicatus zu erhalten. Durch den Einsatz von zwei unterschiedlichen Testsubstraten (Flüssigmedium und naturnaher Boden) werden der Einfluß dieser Substrate sowie die daraus resultierenden Kontaminationspfade der Teststoffe und ihre ökotoxikologische Wirkung auf Algen feststellbar und vergleichbar. Ein Normenentwurf des Biotestsystems wurde inzwischen in das "Technical Committee 190 - Soil Quality" der International Standards Organization (ISO) eingereicht. / Biotests are an important device to assess the toxicity of chemicals, pesticides, polluted water, and soils because they can provide direct information about the influence of a compound on the organism level. Besides various biotests using higher plants there is only the DIN 28 692 biotest "Growth-inhibition test using fresh water algae Scenedesmus subspicatus and Selenastrum capricornutum" (DIN 28 692) also known as the OECD 201 biotest "Algal, Growth Inhibition Test" which is currently available for an ecotoxicological assessment of chemicals such as pesticides on the autotrophic organism level. This aquatic biotest is based on a single specie of fresh water algae and is increasingly applied to evaluate polluted soils and sediments. There is almost no information on aquatic biotests which are using soil algae as test organisms instead. A more comprehensive biotest system which actually combines aquatic and terrestric biotests using several soil algae species as test organisms has not been reported, yet. Thus, a biotest system was developed and subsequently evaluated by using cadmium (cadmium chloride) as a heavy metal, and the herbicide arelon containing isoproturon as the active ingredient. Soil algae were isolated from unpolluted soil in order to obtain test organisms which are not resistant or tolerant to pollutants. The algae isolates were then cultivated, and subsequently identified. A total of 35 algae species was collected. Algae species used in the biotest system were Xanthonema tribonematoides, Stichococcus bacillaris, Klebsormidium flaccidum, Xanthonema montanum, Chlamydomonas noctigama. In addition, the fresh water specie Scenedesmus subspicatus served as a reference algae. Based on these different algae species a gel biotest using liquid gel medium was developed to investigate the contamination path via water, and also a soil biotest with a pre-treated soil of low sorption capacity was deviced to simulate the contamination path through gas, water, and solid phase. The evaluation of the biotest system using cadmium chloride and isoproturon did reveal that soil algae have had only low to medium sensitivity to cadmium chloride in the gel biotest. Algae sensitivity in the soil biotest was very low which was in accordance with data from other biotests using different soil organisms. The weak response of the algae was most likely caused by the sorption of the cadmium ions to the soil matrix what may have decreased the bioavailability of cadmium. In comparison, soil algae were very sensitive to isoproturon in both, the gel biotest and the soil biotest. Both biotests indicated almost identical sensitivities of the tested soil algae which was surprising since 30 % of the isoproturon was sorbed even in soils with a low sorption capacity. Soil algae when compared to the water algae Scenedesmus subspicatus were generally 5 to 10-fold less sensitive to cadmium chloride. Only Klebsormidium flaccidum has proved to have a similar sensitivity as Scenedesmus subspicatus had, whereas Xanthonema montanum was about 20-fold less sensitive. With isoproturon, however, no differences in sensitivity could be seen between Scenedesmus subspicatus and the tested soil algae, except Stichococcus bacillaris which was about 5-fold less sensitive. The biotest system as developed in this study has shown to be suitable for obtaining valuable information about ecotoxicological effects of chemicals on soil and water algae. Since the biotest system consists of two different test media (liquid gel and soil) it is possible to determine ecotoxicological effects on algae in both, water and soil. A first draft of the developed biotest system has been submitted to the "Technical Committee 190 - Soil Quality" of the International Standards Organization (ISO) for review.