Activity of retinoids against benzo(a)pyrene-induced hyperplasia in mouse prostate organ cultures

Abstract

The antihyperplastic activity of several retinoids (with ring, side chain or polar group modifications) against benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced hyperplasia in mouse prostate cultures was examined. Prostate explants were made hyperplastic by treatment with BP for 8 days, followed by simultaneous treatment with BP and different concentrations of a retinoid. The anti-mitotic activity of retinoids was compared with β-retinoic acid (RA). Different retinoids produced various degrees of mitotic inhibition in the hyperplastic prostate epithelium. Five retinoids: 13-cis-retinoic acid, the methylketo cyclopentenyl analog of retinoic acid, the 1-methoxyethyl cyclopentenyl analog of retinoic acid, N-retinoylglycine, and the 14-fluoro derivative of the trimethylmethoxyphenyl analog of retinoic acid ethyl ester, showed greater activity than RA. Seven other retinoids were as active as RA. Two retinoids were less active than RA, and one retinoid produced no mitotic inhibitory effect.