INDUCTION OF CELL-DIVISION DISTURBANCES IN CHINESE-HAMSTER LUNG-CELL LINE V79 BY A COMPLEX MIXTURE OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND AZA-HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

A complex chemical mixture of heavy oil (Z1003), composed of polycycli c aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aza-heterocyclic compounds (AHCs), has been analysed for its ability to induce cell division disturbances on Chinese hamster lung cell line V79. In addition to the complex che mical mixture (Z1003), separated fractions of PAHs and AHCs (including four subfractions according to their polarity) were investigated. The complex mixture Z1003, PAH and AHC fractions and subfractions (exclud ing the weak polar subfraction) caused a strong dose-dependent mitotic arrest in cell cultures of V79 cells. The increase of metaphases was accompanied by a decrease of anaphases and telophases. In low concentr ations of Z1003, PAH and AHC fractions, predominantly initial metaphas es (dislocated chromosomes and/or chromosomes arranged in groups) were observed. In higher concentrations, additionally full C-metaphases an d metaphases with condensed chromatin were detected. The results indic ate a partial or total loss of the spindle apparatus with the result o f an aneuploidy-inducing potential. According to the linkage of aneupl oidy to malignant cell transformation and cancer development, a carcin ogenic potency of the complex chemical mixture Z1003 and its fractions by a non-genotoxic or aneugenic mechanism should be taken into consid eration. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.