Determination of pollutants with multixenobiotic -resistance inhibiting properties

Abstract Recent evidence indicates that inherent presence of multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) mechanism represents a general biological defence mechanism for protection of organisms against both endogenous and environmental toxins. In aquatic organisms exposed to polluted waters, this P-170 glycoprotein pump also removes ‘new’ man-made toxic chemicals out of cells. Many chemical agents may alter the function of this fragile mechanism. A new class of compounds, referred to as ‘chemosensitizers’, deserve a top rank among environmentally-hazardous chemicals, since they block this basic natural defence mechanism. The authors measured the concentration of such MXR-inhibiting substances by two me…