Evaluation of Benzo[c]Chrysene Dihydrodiols in the Morphological Cell Transformation of Mouse Embryo Fibroblast C3H10T1/2CL8 Cells

The morphological cell transforming activities of three dihydrodiols of benzo[c]chrysene (B[c]C), trans?B[c]C-7,8-diol, trans?B[c]C-9,10-diol, and trans?B[c]C-1,2-diol were compared to those of B[c]C in order to study the possible routes of metabolic activation in transformable C3H10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts. B[c]C-treated C3H10T1/2 cells exhibited a concentration-related increase in morphologically transformed foci over a concentration range of 0–3 μg/ml. At 3 μg/ml, B[c]C induced 1.23 Type II & III foci/dish, with 73% of the dishes exhibiting Type II or Type III foci, and a survival of 87%. trans?B[c]C-7,8-diol produced concentration-related responses over a range of 0–5 μg/ml. At 3 μg/ml, trans?B[c]C-7,8-diol produced 1.13 Type II & III foci/dish with 72% of the dishes exhibiting foci, and a survival of 76%. trans?B[c]C-9,10-diol was inactive as a morphological cell transforming agent over a concentration range of 0–3 μg/ml. trans?B[c]C-1,2-diol was also inactive as a morphological cell transforming agent over a concentration range of 0–3 μg/ml. These results suggest that a K-region dihydrodiol of B[c]C, trans?B[cC-7,8-diol, may play a role in the ability of B[c]C to morphologically transform C3H10T1/2 cells.