METAL-SALTS AS PROMOTERS OF INVITRO MORPHOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF HAMSTER-EMBRYO CELLS INITIATED BY BENZO(A)PYRENE

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (7) , 2950-2953
Abstract
The hamster embryo cell bioassay was used to study the effect of metal salts on morphological transformation. A synergistic enhancement of the transformation frequency was found for the combined treatment with organic carcinogens [benzo(a)pyrene, N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide] and nickel sulfate, cadmium acetate or potassium chromate. Chromic chloride and zinc chloride did not induce transformation themselves and they had no effect on the transformation frequency when combined with benzo(a)pyrene. The synergistic effect between benzo(a)pyrene and nickel sulfate or cadmium acetate was apparent when the cells were treated sequentially with the chemicals. When the cells were first exposed to benzo(a)pyrene, nickel sulfate and cadmium acetate showed a promotion-like effect similar to that obtained with the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. When 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or benzo(a)pyrene were used as promotors nickel sulfate and cadmium acetate were able to initiate morphological transformation. The metal salts are more potent as promoters than they are as initiators. These findings may be of importance in relation to carcinogenicity of metal compounds to humans.