EFFECTS OF SODIUM-BUTYRATE, DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE AND DIBUTYRYL-CAMP ON THE POORLY DIFFERENTIATED OVARIAN ADENOCARCINOMA CELL-LINE AMOC-2

To determine whether the poorly differentiated AMOC-2 human ovarian ad enocarcinoma cell line was capable of undergoing differentiation, AMOC -2 cells were exposed to 2 mM sodium butyrate, 2.5% dimethylsulfoxide, or 4 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dibutyryl cAMP) for 6 days. These treatments resulted in growth inhibition, a reduction i n clonogenicity and an increase in cellular glycogen content. Signific ant increases in heat stable alkaline phosphatase activity also occurr ed after exposure to sodium butyrate. In addition, a thorn-like microf ilament structure observed in untreated cells was diminished concomita ntly with morphological changes that included flattening, enlargement and extended cytoplasmic processes after exposure to sodium butyrate o r dibutyryl cAMP. Furthermore, treatment with sodium butyrate increase d the intracellular concentrations of beta-tubulin, vimentin, neurofil aments (M(r) 210,000) and cytokeratin (M(r) 56,000-58,000). These chan ges were completely reversed after removal of the inducing agent. The findings suggest that treatment of AMOC-2 cells with sodium butyrate i nduced a more differentiated phenotype, although terminal differentiat ion was not achieved.