Phorbol ester tumor promoter affects the mouse epidermal gap junctions.
Gap junctions are known to mediate cell to cell coupling. This study shows that the potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), drastically affects the presence of gap junctions between mouse interfollicular epidermal (IFE) cells. In a time course ultrastructural study after a single application of 1 microgram of TPA the gap junctions between the IFE basal cells begin to decrease by 10 h post-exposure, are totally absent between 18 h and 30 h, and start reappearing at 30 h after TPA application. The potent hyperplasiogen , but very weak tumor promoter, mezerein, produces comparable hyperplasia and wide intercellular spaces but the population of gap junctions remains unchanged.
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D010704:Phorbols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013729:Terpenes; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004224:Diterpenes; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D010704:Phorbols; D013729:Terpenes; C011309:mezerein; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate