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Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that clonal cell proliferation of early passage Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells is optimal at a bicarbonate concentration in the culture medium of 8.9 mM (pH 6.65–6.75) under the experimental conditions reported. The purpose of the studies reported here was to examine whether morphological transformation induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BP) was enhanced under optimal culture conditions for SHE cell proliferation. Culture media of pH 6.70, 7.11 and 7.34 under incubator conditions of 10% CO in air were obtained by the addition of 0.75 (8.9 mM), 2.25 (26.8 mM) and 3.75 g/l (44.6 mM) of NaHCO respectively to a modified formulation of Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium. The frequency of morphological transformation of SHE cells was increased at 8.9 mM bicarbonate (pH 6.70) relative to media containing 26.8 or 44.6 mM bicarbonate (pH 7.11 and 7.34 respectively). Additionally, the isolate of embryo cells and lot of fetal bovine serum used supported transformation induced by BP at 8.9 mM bicarbonate (pH 6.70), but did not with media of higher bicarbonate concentration and pH. The duration of cell culture and the no. of colonies per plate influenced the amount of increase of morphological transformation observed at 8.9 mM bicarbonate relative to media of higher bicarbonate concentration. Initial studies have shown that a fraction of morphologically transformed colonies generated at reduced bicarbonate concentration were tumorigenic in newborn hamsters. These results are discussed in terms of the potential utility of low bicarbonate concentration cultured SHE cells for transformation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effect of the pH, Na concentration and osmolality of the culture medium on early passage Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) clonal cell proliferation was examined. The pH of the medium was adjusted from 6.49 to 7.45 by addition of different amounts of NaHCO to the medium and incubating the cell cultures in a fixed atmosphere of 10% CO/90% air. Our results indicate that clonal SHE cell proliferation is optimal at pH 6.65– 6.80 while plating efficiency is independent of pH between 6.65 and 7.45. Adjustment of Na to that concentration in the medium (3450 p.p.m., 0.15 M) of the greatest NaHCOaddition caused a moderate depression of cell proliferation over the entire pH series. Adjusting the osmolality of the culture medium to a constant value of 338 mOsm/kg did not alter the pH effect on cell proliferation. The pH of the medium also affected cellular and colony morphology. Below pH 6.90 there was an increase in the number of colonies which exhibited a transformed-like morphology (‘altered’ colonies). The ‘altered’ phenotype was characterized by a multilayered, criss-cross pattern of growth throughout the colony. This phenotype was stable upon sub-cloning into pH 6.65 medium but was reversible if sub-cloned into pH 736 medium. The induction of ‘altered’ colonies at low pH could be partially suppressed by Na or osmolality adjustment. These results are discussed in terms of optimizing growth conditions for SHE cells in order to enhance their usefulness for cell transformation studies. The induction of ‘altered’ colonies by low pH is also discussed relative to the involvement of pH regulation in tumor-promoter and growth-factor action on cells in culture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cobalt sulfate hydrate, gallium arsenide, molybdenum trioxide, vanadium pentoxide, and nickel sulfate heptahydrate were tested in the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) assay in order to increase the SHE assay database for heavy metals. All five compounds produced significant morphological transformation at one or more doses in a dose-responsive manner. Cobalt sulfate hydrate, gallium arsenide, molybdenum trioxide, and nickel (II) sulfate heptahydrate were all positive with a 24-hr exposure, suggesting direct DNA perturbation. Vanadium pentoxide was negative with a 24-hr exposure, but positive with a 7-day exposure. This pattern of response (24-hr SHE negative/7-day SHE positive) has been seen with other chemicals which have tumor promotion-like characteristics. Since the inception of the use of the SHE cell transformation assay for detecting the neoplastic transformation potential of chemicals, over 42 heavy metal compounds have been tested in this assay. Based on the 24 metal compounds which have been tested in the SHE, Salmonella, and some type of rodent bioassay, the SHE assay is 92% concordant with rodent bioassay carcinogenicity results, including a sensitivity of 95% (21/22) and a specificity of 50% (1/2). At this time, the measure of SHE assay specificity for rodent carcinogenicity of metals is limited by the paucity of metal compounds which are rodent noncarcinogens. The Salmonella assay results are only 33% concordant with the rodent bioassay for these same chemicals. This relatively high concordance between the SHE assay and the rodent bioassay carcinogenicity results demonstrates the utility of the SHE assay for determining the carcinogenic potential of heavy metal compounds in rodent Cancer bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The estimated single-dose oral toxicity (50% lethality) of succinate tartrates (ST) was 2–3 g/kg in rats. ST produced minimal to moderate dermal irritation but no evidence of systemic toxicity in a standard acute percutaneous toxicity test in rabbits. ST was not an eye irritant in a standard rabbit low-volume eye irritation test ST was not genotoxic in a series of six genotoxicity tests. A 14-day oral gavage study in rats at a dose range of 0.05–1.0 g ST/kg/day produced only gastric irritation. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for gastric irritation was 0.1 g/kg for males and 0.05 g/kg for females. A 28-day percutaneous toxicity study in rabbits produced minimal to moderate dermal irritation and no adverse systemic effects at a high dose of 450 mg ST/kg/day. Single-dose absorption, distribution, and elimination (ADE) studies in male rats showed that 10–15% of an oral dose and 1–3% of a dermal dose were absorbed. Approximately 98% of the orally administered ST was eliminated as C in urine, feces, or expired CO after 72 hr. Approximately 80% of the dermally absorbed C dose was eliminated in urine, feces, or expired CO after 72 hr. In conclusion, no adverse effects were noted in acute toxicity, genotoxicity, or subchronic toxicity studies conducted with ST. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]