A RAPID METHOD FOR DETECTION OF NONGENOTOXIC CARCINOGENS OF ENVIRONMENTAL-POLLUTANTS USING SYNCHRONIZED V79 CELLS AND FLOW-CYTOMETRY

Synchronized V79 cells were treated before entering mitosis with known and suspicious mitotic arrestants and analyzed by flow cytometry and by light microscopy. Colcemid, nocodazole, vinblastine, diethylstilbes trol, triethyl lead and cadmium sulfate caused a dose dependent mitoti c arrest of up to 80%, in comparison with 6% for the controls. Mixture s of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic compounds induc ed a mitotic arrest of 50%-60%. Extracts of airborne particulates reve aled a mitotic arrest of 10%-40%. In contrast, benzoquinone and hydroq uinone led to a G2-block rather than to a mitotic arrest. Results of f low cytometry measurements correlated well with those obtained by ligh t microscopy. Cell synchronization in combination with flow cytometry seems to be of considerable value as a rapid method for testing nongen otoxic agents with mitotic arresting activity.