Induction of neoplastic transformation and DNA single-strand breaks in C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 cells by polycyclic hydrocarbons and alkylating agents
Lubet, R.A.; Kiss, E.; Gallagher, M.M.; Dively, C.; Kouri, R.E.; Schechtman, L.M.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 71(5): 991-997
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-8874 PMID: 6316014 Document Number: 209450
The standard C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 (C3H/10T1/2 CL8) cell transformation assay was tested for its ability to identify a variety of polycyclic hydrocarbons and alkylating agents. Dose-dependent morphologic transformation occurred with benzoanthracene yielded a relatively weak response, whereas anthracene and phenanthrene were negative. In contrast, treatment of C3H/10T1/2 CL8 cells with two directly acting alkylating agents, N-nitroso-N-methylnitroguanidine (MNNG) and styrene oxide, gave no transformation, whereas a third alkylating agent, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), gave a weak response. Treatment with MCA (2.5 micrograms/ml) yielded a reproducible positive response and, therefore, served as a positive control for routine use of the C3H/10T1/2 CL8 assay. When cells treated with the hydrocarbons BaP, BaP-7,8-diol, or MCA were analyzed for nonspecific DNA damage (single-strand breaks or alkaline-labile sites) by alkaline elution techniques, little if any DNA damage was observed. In contrast, the alkylating agents MNNG, styrene oxide, and EMS yielded substantial numbers of single-strand breaks.