MAMMARY-GLAND CELL-MEDIATED MUTAGENESIS OF MAMMALIAN-CELLS BY ORGAN-SPECIFIC CARCINOGENS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (6) , 1836-1841
Abstract
Rat mammary gland cells were used to activate chemical procarcinogens to mutagenic compounds in a culture system. Mutagenesis was tested in Chinese hamster V-79 [lung] cells that were cocultured with the mammary cells. The locus mutations tested for were resistance to ouabain and resistance to 6-thioguanine. Mammary cells were separated into several fractions. Fractions enriched in epithelial or stromal cells could mediate mutagenesis. The mutation frequency related to the density of the mammary cells. The mammary carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement of mutation frequency and cytotoxicity when added to the cocultures, whereas the hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B1 did not. This system may be useful in examining some of the mechanisms of organ-specific carcinogenesis and also may act as a screening system for carcinogenic environmental contaminants.