| Abstract: | A method is proposed for a polarografic study of the respiration of cell suspensions obtained from monolayer cultures of L-cells and from normal embryonic fibroblasts of mice (C3HA line). 6-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (6-OHBP). The metabolite of the carcinogenic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene, was shown to be a strong uncoupler of of oxidation and phosphorylation of cell suspensions. Its effect was influenced by the presence of calf serum in the incubation media. Possible relationships between the toxic effect of 6-OHBP on monolayer cultures of normal and tumor cells, and its effect on cell energetics are discussed. |
