Variations of ATP content in V79 cells treated with crude toxins of Aequorea aequorea (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) and Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa). A preliminary study.

The toxicity of Cnidaria exerts a noticeable influence on some human activities, such as fishery and bathing, and on public health. As toxins of Cnidaria are located in nematocysts and in tissues, in this study the influence of crude toxins (nematocyst and surrounding tissue venom) extracted from the jellyfish Aequorea aequorea and Rhizostoma pulmo on ATP content of cultured V79 cells was assessed. Using the crude toxin of A.aequorea increase of ATP levels in treated cells was noted; highest values (41.2 10-7 mM/ml after 180 min treatment) were reached using the highest dose. Otherwise, a generalized decrease of ATP levels was observed treating cells with crude toxin of R.pulmo; recorded values showed the complete depletion of cell ATP at 115 min treatment with the highest dose. A statistical significance was recorded between treatment times and between doses using crude toxin of R.pulmo, and only between treatment times for A.aequorea.