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Alteration in expression of gap junction proteins in rat liver after treatment with the tumour promoter 3,4,5,3′,4′-pentachiorobiphenyl

Polychiorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals which are highly persistent and widely distributed in the environment. We have previously shown that 3,4,5,3′,4′-pentachiorobiphenyl (PCB 126) is a potent tumour promoter in two separate 20 week initiation–promotion studies. In the present st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carcinogenesis (New York) 1994-11, Vol.15 (11), p.2439-2443
Main Authors: Bager, Yvonne, Kenne, Kerstin, Krutovskikh, Vladimir, Mesnil, Marc, Traub, Otto, Wärngàrd, Lars
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Polychiorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals which are highly persistent and widely distributed in the environment. We have previously shown that 3,4,5,3′,4′-pentachiorobiphenyl (PCB 126) is a potent tumour promoter in two separate 20 week initiation–promotion studies. In the present study, rat livers from these two studies were further investigated for connexin expression. The results demonstrated that treatment with PCB 126 caused a decrease in the amount of the two major liver connexins, cx 26 and cx 32, In livers of treated animals. This reduction was also prominent after treatment at low doses, although γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci had not developed in these livers. The quantity of cx 26 and cx 32 in iminunostained liver sections was determined using a computerized fluorescence image analyzer. Western blot analysis of liver extracts conlinned these results. No changes in the RNA levels in the treated rats were seen, suggesting that the down-regulation of cx 26 and cx 32 is post-transcriptional.
ISSN:0143-3334
1460-2180
DOI:10.1093/carcin/15.11.2439