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The article discusses a study aimed at testing the in vivo toxicity of sodium nitrate and sodium benzoate in terms of DNA content changes of the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis via the computerized DNA image analysis system. T. pyriformis protozoa were grown axenically in a proteose-peptone broth at 25 degrees Centigrade until they reach late log phase. The findings support a toxicogenomic effect of sodium nitrate and sodium benzoates in selected experimental model T. pyriformis.

The toxicity, in terms of changes in the DNA content, of two food preservatives, sodium nitrate and sodium benzoate was studied on the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis using DNA image analysis technology. For this purpose, selected doses of both food additives were administered for 2 h to protozoa cultures and DNA image analysis of T. pyriformis nuclei was performed. The analysis was based on the measurement of the Mean Optical Density which represents the cellular DNA content. The results have shown that after exposure of the protozoan cultures to doses equivalent to ADI, a statistically significant increase in the macronuclear DNA content compared to the unexposed control samples was observed. The observed increase in the macronuclear DNA content is indicative of the stimulation of the mitotic process and the observed increase in MOD, accompanied by a stimulation of the protozoan proliferation activity is in consistence with this assumption. Since alterations at the DNA level such as DNA content and uncontrolled mitogenic stimulation have been linked with chemical carcinogenesis, the results of the present study add information on the toxicogenomic profile of the selected chemicals and may potentially lead to reconsideration of the excessive use of nitrates aiming to protect public health.