title: Fibroblast cultures of nude mouse skin as targets for transformation by chemical carcinogens.
abstract: Secondary cultures of newborn NMRI nu/nu (nude) mouse fibroblasts were used as targets for transformation by chemical carcinogen. 3-Methylcholanthrene, benzo(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene induced the development of foci of transformed cells in cultures, whereas no foci were obtained under similar conditions when the non-carcinogenic chemical anthracene was used. The frequency of focus formation was dependent on cell density as well as on the chemical and its concentration. The frequency of focus formation by 3-methylcholanthrene, the most potent compound tested, ranged up to 22 foci per 10(5) surviving cells, whereas benz(a)anthracene induced 1.8 foci under similar conditions. A high level of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, a carcinogen-activating enzyme complex, was detected in the fibroblast cultures used.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012867:Skin
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes; D001580:Benzopyrenes; D002273:Carcinogens; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; C030935:benz(a)anthracene; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C034020:anthracene