Suppressive Effect of 3-Methylcholanthrene on Phagocytic Activity of Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages for Torulopsis glabrata

• Published in: JNCI : Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1979-04, Vol.62 (4), p.983-988
• Main Authors: Tewari, Ram P., Balint, Joseph P., Brown, Kenneth A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Ascitic Fluid - immunology; Candida - immunology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Methylcholanthrene - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Neoplasms, Experimental - chemically induced; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Species Specificity; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0027-8874; 1460-2105
• DOI: 10.1093/jnci/62.4.983

The effect of 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) on the phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages for Torulopsis glabrata was investigated. Macrophages were maintained in glass scintillation vials or on cover slips in Leighton tubes with the use of Hanks' balanced salt solution plus 30% horse serum. Graded amounts of MCA were incorporated into the medium and the macrophages were parasitized with viables cells of T. glabrata. Macrophages from C3H mice, a strain highly susceptible to MCA carcinogenesis, were more prone to the suppressive effect of MCA than were the macrophages from CFW mice, a relatively resistant strain. Significant suppressive effect on phagocytosis of macrophages from C3H mice was observed with 5 µg MCA/ml, whereas up to 50 µg MCA/ml did not alter the phagocytic activity of CFW macrophages. However, 100 µg MCA/ml also supprened the phagocytosis of CFW macrophages. Suppression in phagocytosis of C3H macrophages was observed after 6 hours' exposure to MCA, whereas a similar effect on CFW macrophages was seen after 12 hours. Treatment with 100 µg MCA/ml impaired the fungicidal activity of both C3H and CFW macrophages. These results indicate a correlation between the suppressive effect of MCA on macrophage activity and the strain susceptibility of mice to chemical carcinogenesis.