Hamster Embryo Research Articles

Relief of delayed oxidative stress by ascorbic acid can suppress radiation-induced cellular senescence in mammalian fibroblast cells

Ionizing radiation-induced cellular senescence is thought to be caused by nuclear DNA damage that cannot be repaired. However, here we found that radiation induces delayed increase of intracellular oxidative stress after irradiation. We investigated whether the relief of delayed oxidative stress by ascorbic acid would suppress the radiation-induced cellular senescence in Syrian golden hamster embryo (SHE) cells. We observed that the level of oxidative stress was drastically increased soon after irradiation, then declined to the level in non-irradiated cells, and increased again with a peak on day 3 after irradiation. We found that the inductions of cellular senescence after X-irradiation were reduced along with suppression of the delayed induction of oxidative stress by treatment with ascorbic acid, but not when oxidative stress occurred immediately after irradiation. Moreover, treatment of ascorbic acid inhibited p53 accumulation at 3 days after irradiation. Our data suggested a delayed increase of intracellular oxidative stress levels plays an important role in the process of radiation-induced cellular senescence by p53 accumulation.

Effective cryopreservation of golden Syrian hamster embryos by open pulled straw vitrification.

Golden Syrian hamster embryos are difficult to cryopreserve due to their high sensitivity to cryoprotectants and in vitro handling. The objective of this study is to develop a robust open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification technique for cryopreserving hamster embryos at various developmental stages. We first systematically tested the concentrations of cryoprotectants and the exposure times of two-cell embryos to various vitrification solutions. We identified pretreatment of two-cell embryos with 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) + 10% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for 30 s followed by exposure in the vitrification solution, EDFS30 (containing 15% EG + 15% DMSO), for 30 s before plunging into liquid nitrogen (two-step exposure method) as the optimal OPS vitrification protocol. We then investigated the resourcefulness of this protocol for vitrifying hamster embryos at different developmental stages. The results showed that high blastocyst rates from embryos vitrified at two-cell, four-cell, eight-cell, or morula stage (62%, 78%, 80%, or 72%, respectively), but not those verified at pronuclear (0%) or blastocyst stage (24%; P < 0.05), were achieved by this protocol. When embryos vitrified at the two-cell stage were recovered and then directly transferred to recipient females, 29% of them developed to term, a development rate not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the 40% birth rate of the unvitrified controls. In conclusion, we have developed an effective two-step OPS vitrification protocol for hamster embryos.

The Syrian hamster embryo cells transformation assay identifies efficiently nongenotoxic carcinogens, and can contribute to alternative, integrated testing strategies

The long-term carcinogenesis bioassays have played a central role in protecting human health, but for ethical and practical reasons their use is dramatically diminishing and the genotoxicity short-term tests have taken the pivotal role in the pre-screening of chemical carcinogenicity. However, this strategy cannot detect nongenotoxic carcinogens. Since up to 25% of IARC human carcinogens are recognized to have nongenotoxic mechanisms of action, the risk they pose to human health cannot be disregarded, and it is urgent to fill the gap in the tools for alternative testing.In this paper, we analyze from different perspectives the ability of Cell Transformation Assays to identify nongenotoxic carcinogens, and we conclude that the Syrian hamster embryo cells test is able to identify nongenotoxic carcinogens with 80–90% efficiency, and thus, can play an important role in integrated, alternative testing strategies.

Transformation Assay in Bhas 42 Cells: A Model Using Initiated Cells to Study Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Predict Carcinogenic Potential of Chemicals

Transformation assays using cultured cells have been applied to the study of carcinogenesis. Although various cell systems exist, few cell types such as BALB/c 3T3 subclones and Syrian hamster embryo cells have been used to study chemically induced two-stage carcinogenesis. Bhas 42 cells were established as a clone by the transfection with the v-Ha-ras gene into mouse BALB/c 3T3 A31-1-1 cells and their subsequent selection based on their sensitivity to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Using Bhas 42 cells, transformed foci were induced by the treatment with nongenotoxic carcinogens, most of which act as tumor promoters. Therefore, Bhas 42 cells were considered to be a model of initiated cells. Subsequently, not only nongenotoxic carcinogens but also genotoxic carcinogens, most of which act as tumor initiators, were found to induce transformed foci by the modification of the protocol. Furthermore, transformation of Bhas 42 cells was induced by the transfection with genes of oncogenic potential. We interpret this high sensitivity of Bhas 42 cells to various types of carcinogenic stimuli to be related to the multistage model of carcinogenesis, as the transfection of v-Ha-ras gene further advances the parental BALB/c 3T3 A31-1-1 cells toward higher transforming potential. Thus, we propose that Bhas 42 cells are a novel and sensitive cell line for the analysis of carcinogenesis and can be used for the detection of not only carcinogenic substances but also gene alterations related to oncogenesis. This review will address characteristics of Bhas 42 cells, the transformation assay protocol, validation studies, and the various chemicals tested in this assay.

Embryo cryopreservation and in vitro culture of preimplantation embryos in Campbell's hamster (Phodopus campbelli)

The aims of this study were to compare different protocols of Campbell's hamster (Phodopus campbelli) embryos freezing–thawing and to explore the possibilities of their in vitro culture. First, the embryos were flushed from the reproductive ducts 2 days post coitum at the two-cell stage and cultured in rat one-cell embryo culture medium (R1ECM) for 48 hours. Most (86.7%) of the two-cell embryos developed to blastocysts in R1ECM. Second, the embryos at the two- to eight-cell stages were flushed on the third day post coitum. The eight-cell embryos were frozen in 0.25 mL straws according to standard procedures of slow cooling. Ethylene glycol (EG) was used either as a single cryoprotectant or in a mixture with sucrose. The survival of frozen-thawed embryos was assessed by double staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. The use of EG as a single cryoprotectant resulted in fewer alive embryos when compared with control (fresh embryos), but combined use of EG and sucrose improved the survival rate after thawing. Furthermore, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor rat (2 ng/mL) improved the rate of the hamster frozen-thawed embryo development in vitro by increasing the final cell number and alleviating nuclear fragmentation. Our data show the first attempt in freezing and thawing Campbell's hamster embryos and report the possibility of successful in vitro culture for this species in R1ECM supplemented with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

93 THE INVOLVEMENT OF E-CADHERIN IN THERMOPROTECTIVE FUNCTION OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 IN 4-CELL HAMSTER EMBRYOS

Studies have demonstrated that the early pre-implantation embryo is very sensitive to effects of heat stress in vitro. Heat stress reduces the total cell number in blastocysts and increases apoptosis in blastomeres. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been widely studied as a thermoprotective agent for its anti-apoptotic actions. Addition of IGF-1 to the culture medium decreases the effects of heat stress on blastocysts but has no effects on 2-cell embryos. Molecular mechanisms by which IGF-1 decreases apoptosis involve activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. It is also known that adherens junctions contribute to PI3K/AKT activation mediated by the transmembrane glycoprotein E-cadherin, which is involved in Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Within 2- to 8-cell embryos, E-cadherin is mainly inactive and has cytoplasmic localization. 6-Dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) induces premature cell flattening and E-cadherin redistribution to adhesion sites in 4-cell embryos. The aim of this study was to induce E-cadherin redistribution in 4-cell hamster embryos and evaluate the thermoprotective function of IGF-1 in these embryos. Four-cell embryos were incubated in the presence of 6-DMAP to induce E-cadherin redistribution to adhesion sites and cultured for 24 h under conditions of heat stress and compared with controls without 6-DMAP. Culture medium was supplemented with IGF-1. At the end of culture, developmental stage and rate of apoptosis were determined and analysed by ANOVA using the General Linear Model (GLM) of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) procedure with statistical significance at P &lt; 0.05. E-Cadherin redistribution induced by 6-DMAP increased development to the 6-cell stage after 24 h (63.57% v. 38.81%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05) and reduced apoptosis (25% v. 33%, respectively; P &lt; 0.05) under heat-stress conditions. In conclusion, we hypothesise a role for E-cadherin-mediated cell flattening in promoting IGF-1-mediated thermoprotection in pre-compact 4-cell hamster embryos. Further studies are required to confirm this link.

Development block of golden hamster ICSI embryos is associated with decreased expression of HDAC1, HSPA1A and MYC.

We have investigated the mechanism for embryo development block in vitro and to improve the development rate of golden hamster embryos in vitro. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique was used to produce golden hamster ICSI embryos. The changes in the histone acetylation and the expression of histone deacetylase and related genes were analyzed by immunocytochemical staining and real-time PCR both in golden hamster in vivo embryos and in ICSI embryos. Aged oocytes significantly increased the oocyte spontaneous activation rate. In vitro cultured ICSI embryos suffered from severe development block in M199TE medium. Expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) was significantly decreased in the nuclei of the arrested ICSI 2-cell embryos, and its nuclear and cytoplasmic expression pattern was also markedly altered. The acetylation level of H4K5, however, was not significantly changed between golden hamster in vivo embryos and ICSI embryos. HSPA1A and MYC, the marker genes for zygotic genome activation (ZGA), were transcriptionally decreased in arrested ICSI 2-cell embryos. Transcription of HDAC1 was also downregulated in these embryos, whereas the mRNA expression of the proapoptotic gene, BAX, was not changed. These results indicate that the golden hamster ICSI embryo development block during ZGA is associated with decreased nuclear expression and altered expression of HDAC1. HSPA1A, MYC, and HDAC1 mRNA levels, which decrease, resulting in ZGA failure.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of panel of single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes: in vitro effects on normal Syrian hamster embryo and immortalized v79 hamster lung cells.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) belong to a specific class of nanomaterials with unique properties. Because of their anticipated use in a wide range of industrial applications, their toxicity is of increasing concern. In order to determine whether specific physicochemical characteristics of CNTs are responsible for their toxicological effects, we investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of eight CNTs representative of each of the commonly encountered classes: single- SW-, double- DW-, and multiwalled (MW) CNTs, purified and raw. In addition, because most previous studies of CNT toxicity were conducted on immortalized cell lines, we decided to compare results obtained from V79 cells, an established cell line, with results from SHE (Syrian hamster embryo) cells, an easy-to-handle normal cell model. After 24 hours of treatment, MWCNTs were generally found to be more cytotoxic than SW- or DWCNTs. MWCNTs also provoked more genotoxic effects. No correlation could be found between CNT genotoxicity and metal impurities, length, surface area, or induction of cellular oxidative stress, but genotoxicity was seen to increase with CNT width. The toxicity observed for some CNTs leads us to suggest that they might also act by interfering with the cell cycle, but no significant differences were observed between normal and immortalized cells.

Assessment of the genotoxic and carcinogenic potentials of 3‐aminothiophene derivatives using in vitro and in silico methodologies

Thiophene derivatives, a class of compounds widely used in products such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals or dyestuffs, represent chemicals of concern. Indeed, the thiophene ring is often considered as a structural moiety that may be involved in toxic effects in humans. We primarily focus on the genotoxic/mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials of the methyl 3-amino-4-methylthiophene-2-carboxylate (1), a precursor of the articaine local anesthetic (4) which falls within the scope of the European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals) legislation. To discern some structure-toxicity relationships, we also studied two related compounds, namely the 3-amino 4-methylthiophene (2) and the 2-acetyl 4-chlorothiophene (3). Techniques employed to assess mutagenic and DNA-damaging effects involved the Salmonella mutagenicity assay (or Ames test) and the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (or Comet assay). In the range of tested doses, none of these derivatives led to a positive response in the Ames tests and DNA damage was only observed in the Comet assay after high concentration exposure of 2. The study of their carcinogenic potential using the in vitro SHE (Syrian Hamster Embryo) cell transformation assay (CTA) highlighted the activity of compound 2. A combination of experimental data with in silico predictions of the reactivity of thiophene derivatives towards cytochrome P450 (CYP450), enabled us to hypothesize possible pathways leading to these toxicological profiles.

Miniaturization of cytotoxicity tests for concentration range-finding studies prior to conducting the pH 6.7 Syrian hamster embryo cell-transformation assay

The Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell-transformation assay (SHE assay) is a promising alternative method to animal testing for the identification of potential carcinogens in vitro. Prior to conducting the SHE assay the appropriate concentration range for each test chemical must be established, with a maximum concentration causing approximately 50% cytotoxicity. Concentration range-finding is done in separate experiments, which are similar to the final SHE assay but with less replicates and more concentrations. Here we present an alternative for the cytotoxicity testing by miniaturization of the test procedure by use of 24-well plates and surpluses from feeder-cell preparations as target cells. In addition, we integrated the photometry-based neutral red (NR) assay. For validation of the assay, incubations with dimethyl sulf-oxide, p-phenylenediamine–2HCl, aniline, o-toluidine–HCl, 2,4-diaminotoluene, and 2-naphthylamine were carried out in the miniaturized approach and compared with the standard procedure in terms of calculating the relative plating efficiencies (RPEs). To directly compare both methods, concentrations that produced 50% cytotoxicity (IC50) were calculated. Excellent associations were observed between the number of colonies and NR uptake. For all test substances a concentration-dependent, concomitant decrease of NR uptake in the miniaturized approach and RPEs in the standard test was observed after a 7-day incubation. The results from both test setups showed a comparable order of magnitude and the IC50 values differed by a factor <2 (1.4–1.9), depending on the substance in question. Overall, the miniaturized approach should be considered an improved alternative for cytotoxicity testing in the SHE assay, as it saves valuable SHE cells and speeds-up the time, to obtain test results more rapidly.

Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Primary Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) Cells

Silver-nanoparticles (NPs) have become increasingly common in various applications, raising some safety concerns. In this study, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of silver-NPs on primary Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells were investigated. Cell viability was assessed using a methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and genotoxic potential was evaluated using a cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The results showed that dose-dependent cytotoxicity was induced after 24 h of exposure to silver-NPs. The micronucleation frequency (MNF) also increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), suggesting that silver-NPs induce genotoxicity. This is consistent with an increased MNF observed in primary SHE cells. The results of cell cycle analysis indicate that the cell cycles became arrested in the GO/G1 phase and that the S phase shortened after only 8 h of silver-NP exposure, suggesting that DNA replication had been inhibited, which in turn inhibited further cell proliferation. The rate of late-stage apoptosis increased after 12 h of silver-NP exposure, and both early- and late-stage apoptosis were obviously increased after 72 h of exposure than in controls. This study demonstrated that silver-NPs could induce strong cytotoxicity and significant genotoxicity in primary SHE cells and that this is probably due to silver-NP-induced apoptosis and the inhibition of cell proliferation.

Multistep Changes of Cytoskeletal Organization and Extracellular Matrix During the Process of Neoplastic Transformation in Syrian/Golden Hamster Embryo Cells.

Multistep Changes of Cytoskeletal Organization and Extracellular Matrix During the Process of Neoplastic Transformation in Syrian/Golden Hamster Embryo Cells.

In vitro cell transformation assays for an integrated, alternative assessment of carcinogenicity: a data-based analysis

The study of the chemical carcinogenesis mechanisms and the design of efficient prevention strategies and measures are of crucial importance to protect human health. The long-term carcinogenesis bioassays have played a central role in protecting human health, but for ethical and practical reasons their use is dramatically diminishing, and the genotoxicity short-term tests have taken the pivotal role in the pre-screening of carcinogenicity. However, there is evidence that this strategy is not sensitive enough to detect all genotoxic carcinogens and it cannot detect nongenotoxic carcinogens. In a previous article, we have shown that an integrated strategy consisting of the in vitro Ames and Syrian Hamster Embryo cells transformation assays, combined with structure-activity relationships, is a valid alternative to the present pre-screening strategies. Here, we expand the previous investigation by (i) including results of cell transformation assays on inorganics, together with an additional assay (Bhas 42), and (ii) considering new structural alerts for nongenotoxic carcinogenicity. We also present a new analysis on global relationships between toxicological endpoints. The new results confirm that the previously proposed integrated, alternative strategy is an efficient tool to identify both genotoxic and nongenotoxic carcinogens, with an estimated 90-95% sensitivity.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) acts as a tumor promoter on Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (C(8)F(17)SO(3)) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (C(8)HF(15)O(2)) are synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial applications for their hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. They are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to mammalian species. Their widespread distribution on earth and contamination of human serum raised concerns about long-term side effects. They are suspected to be carcinogenic through a nongenotoxic mode of action, a mechanism supported by recent findings that PFOS induced cell transformation but no genotoxicity in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. In the present study, we evaluated carcinogenic potential of PFOA using the cell transformation assay on SHE cells. The chemical was applied alone or in combination with a nontransformant concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, 0.4μM) in order to detect PFOA ability to act as tumor initiator or tumor promoter. The results showed that PFOA tested alone in the range 3.7 × 10(-5) to 300μM did not induce SHE cell transformation frequency in a 7-day treatment. On the other side, the combination BaP/PFOA induced cell transformation at all PFOA concentrations tested, which revealed synergistic effects. No genotoxicity of PFOA on SHE cells was detected using the comet assay after 5 and 24h of exposure. No significant increase in DNA breakage was found in BaP-initiated cells exposed to PFOA in a 7-day treatment. The whole results showed that PFOA acts as a tumor promoter and a nongenotoxic carcinogen. Cell transformation in initiated cells was observed at concentrations equivalent to the ones found in human serum of nonoccupationally and occupationally exposed populations. An involvement of PFOA in increased incidence of cancer recorded in occupationally exposed population cannot be ruled out.

Cell Cycle–dependent Dynamics of Cytoskeleton Involving Mitochondrial Redistribution in Hamster Embryos

Mitochondria-cytoskeleton interactions were studied in the hamster embryos during interphase and M phase of the cell cycle. Two-cell embryos were cultured for 1 h with nocodazole, cytochalasin D or in a combination of both inhibitors and then centrifuged at 10,000 × g for 2 min. The control embryos were only centrifuged with no inhibitor treatment. Centrifuged embryos were fluorescently stained to examine the distribution of active mitochondria and nuclear configuration. In the control 2-cell embryos, most mitochondria were accumulated at the perinuclear region with some at the cell cortex. Neither each inhibitor nor centrifugation did affect the distribution of mitochondria in interphase blastomeres. However, mitochondria were spun down towards the centrifugal pole in 71% (n = 41) of the interphase blastomeres treated with centrifugation following a combination of nocodazole plus cytochalasin D, suggesting that both microtubules and microfilaments may involve in mitochondrial redistribution during interphase of the cell cycle. In contrast, when M-phase blastomeres were treated with all drug treatments applied, including cytochalasin D, mitochondria had been usually dislocated in a unipolar cluster, suggesting that microfilaments, not microtubules, may involve in the mitochondrial redistribution during M phase of the cell cycle. The data indicate that microfilaments function in mitochondrial redistribution regardless of the stages of the cell cycle and that microtubules may strongly associate with mitochondria during the interphase but dissociate from them during the M phase.

Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Nanosized and Microsized Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide Particles in Syrian Hamster Embryo Cells

Potential differences in the toxicological properties of nanosized and non-nanosized particles have been notably pointed out for titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) particles, which are currently widely produced and used in many industrial areas. Nanoparticles of the iron oxides magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) and hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) also have many industrial applications but their toxicological properties are less documented than those of TiO(2). In the present study, the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of commercially available nanosized and microsized anatase TiO(2), rutile TiO(2), Fe(3)O(4), and Fe(2)O(3) particles were compared in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. Samples were characterized for chemical composition, primary particle size, crystal phase, shape, and specific surface area. In acellular assays, TiO(2) and iron oxide particles were able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the same mass dose, all nanoparticles produced higher levels of ROS than their microsized counterparts. Measurement of particle size in the SHE culture medium showed that primary nanoparticles and microparticles are present in the form of micrometric agglomerates of highly poly-dispersed size. Uptake of primary particles and agglomerates by SHE exposed for 24 h was observed for all samples. TiO(2) samples were found to be more cytotoxic than iron oxide samples. Concerning primary size effects, anatase TiO(2), rutile TiO(2), and Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles induced higher cytotoxicity than their microsized counterparts after 72 h of exposure. Over this treatment time, anatase TiO(2) and Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles also produced more intracellular ROS compared to the microsized particles. However, similar levels of DNA damage were observed in the comet assay after 24 h of exposure to anatase nanoparticles and microparticles. Rutile microparticles were found to induce more DNA damage than the nanosized particles. However, no significant increase in DNA damage was detected from nanosized and microsized iron oxides. None of the samples tested showed significant induction of micronuclei formation after 24 h of exposure. In agreement with previous size-comparison studies, we suggest that in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by metal oxide nanoparticles are not always higher than those induced by their bulk counterparts.

DEHP: Genotoxicity and potential carcinogenic mechanisms—A review

Di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a manufactured chemical commonly added to plastics: it is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant to which humans are exposed through multiple routes. DEHP is a rodent carcinogen with an extensive data base on genotoxicity and related effects spanning several decades. Although DEHP has been reported to be negative in most non-mammalian in vitro mutation assays, most studies were performed under conditions of concurrent cytotoxicity, precipitation, or irrelevant metabolic activation. However, a number of in vitro rodent tissue assays have reported DEHP to be positive for effects on chromosomes, spindle, and mitosis. A robust database shows that DEHP increases transformation and inhibits apoptosis in Syrian hamster embryo cells. In a transgenic mouse assay, in vivo DEHP exposure increased the mutation frequency only in the liver, which is the target organ for cancer. In vitro exposure of human cells or tissues to DEHP induced DNA damage; altered mitotic rate, apoptosis, and cell proliferation; increased proliferation, tumor mobility, and invasiveness of tumor cell lines; and activated a number of nuclear receptors. DEHP has been shown to be an agonist for CAR2, a novel constitutive androstane receptor occurring only in humans. Environmental exposures of humans to DEHP have been associated with DNA damage. After taking into account study context and relevant issues affecting interpretation, in vitro studies reported that a similar DEHP concentration range induced both mutagenic and non-mutagenic effects in human tissues and, using a much more limited rodent database, transformation of embryonic rodent tissues. The human and rodent data suggest that DEHP induces cancer through multiple molecular signals, including DNA damage. The analyses presented here may provide guidance for similar data sets used in structure-activity relationships, computational-toxicology extrapolations, and attempts to extrapolate in vitro results to predict in vivo effects for hazard characterization.

Classification of test agent-specific effects in the Syrian hamster embryo assay (pH 6.7) using infrared spectroscopy with computational analysis

The Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (pH 6.7) has utility in the assessment of potential chemical carcinogenicity (both genotoxic and non-genotoxic mechanisms of action). The assay uses morphological transformation as an end point and has a reported sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 83% and overall concordance of 85% with in vivo rodent bioassay data. However, the scoring of morphologically transformed SHE cells is subjective. We treated SHE cells grown on low-E reflective slides with benzo[a]pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, anthracene, N-nitroso-N-methylnitroguanidine, ortho-toluidine HCl, 2,4-diaminotoluene or D-mannitol for 7 days before fixation with methanol. Identified colonies were interrogated by acquiring a minimum of five infrared (IR) spectra per colony using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy. Individual IR spectra were acquired over a spatial area of approximately 250 × 250 μm. Resultant data were analysed using Fisher's linear discriminant analysis and feature histogram algorithms to extract classifying biomarkers of test agent-specific effects or transformation in SHE cells. Clustering of spectral points suggested co-segregation or discrimination of test agent categories based on mechanism of action. Towards transformation, unifying alterations were associated with alterations in the Amide I and Amide II peaks; these were consistently major classifying biomarkers for transformed versus non-transformed SHE cells. Our approach highlights a novel method towards objectively screening and classifying SHE cells, be it to ascertain test agent treatment based on mechanism of action or transformation.

Rodent cell transformation assays—A brief historical perspective

In vitro cell transformation is a process characterized by a series of progressive distinctive events that often emulate manifestations occurring in vivo and which are associated with neoplasia. Attendant cellular and sub-cellular alterations include, among others: cellular immortality, phenotypic changes, aneuploidy, genetic variability, cellular disarray, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity in vivo. Early chemically induced neoplastic transformation studies involved the use of normal diploid (Syrian) hamster embryo (SHE) cells and monitored the formation of morphologically altered colonies. Later investigations employed primarily two established mouse cell lines, i.e. the BALB/c 3T3 A31 cell line and the C3H 10T 1/2 cell line, and monitored the induction of morphologically aberrant foci. In either case, such transformed cellular clusters (colonies and foci) could induce tumors upon inoculation in vivo. Some subsequent noteworthy advancements using these systems included pH adjustments, metabolic supplementation, amplification of expression of formerly latent transformed foci, concurrent detection of mutagenesis and transformation, and use of a Bhas 42 cell line (v-Ha-ras transfected BALB/c 3T3 cells) to detect both tumor initiators and promoters. Over time, such transformation assay systems have been found useful in academic, industry and regulatory laboratories, generally for research purposes, but also occasionally as screening tools for potential chemical carcinogens. Nevertheless, to date, use of these assays for decision-making purposes in the regulatory arena remains elusive and will require comprehensive validation to gain universal acceptance.

Prevalidation study of the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay at pH 7.0 for assessment of carcinogenic potential of chemicals

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has organised an interlaboratory prevalidation study on the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (CTA) at pH 7.0 for the detection of rodent carcinogens. The SHE CTA at pH 7.0 has been evaluated for its within-laboratory reproducibility, transferability and between-laboratory reproducibility. Four laboratories using the same basic protocol with minor modifications participated in this study and tested a series of six coded-chemicals: four rodent carcinogens (benzo(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, 2,4-diaminotoluene and o-toluidine HCl) and two non-carcinogens (anthracene and phthalic anhydride). All the laboratories found the expected results with coded chemicals except for phthalic anhydride which resulted in a different call in only one laboratory. Based on the outcome of this study, it can be concluded that a standardised protocol is available that should be the basis for future use. This protocol and the assay system itself are transferable between laboratories and the SHE CTA at pH 7.0 is reproducible within- and between-laboratories.