[Possibility of identifying tumor promoters by their inhibitory action on the intercellular exchange of lucifer yellow]

Abstract

The effects of tumor promoter--12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), mezerein, anthralin, Ca2+-ionophore A23187, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), DDT and phenobarbital--on cell-to-cell exchange of Lucifer Yellow were studied in cultures of SV40-transformed Djungarian hamster fibroblasts. TPA, mezerein, A23187, DDT and BHT strongly inhibited cell-to-cell exchange of Lucifer Yellow. Anthralin uncoupled cells in 3 out of 6 experiments. Phenobarbital, in contrast to other promoters, enhanced dye transfer. The effects of all the promoters tested were fully reversible. The potential use of Lucifer Yellow exchange inhibition as a test for the screening of tumor promoters is discussed.