Chromosome breakage and neoplastic transformation of Syrian golden hamster embryonic cells in tissue culture by transplacental application of 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF-2).

Hamster embryos were treated with 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF-2) in vivo (in the mother) by transplacental application. The fetuses were isolated 24 h after administration of the AF-2 and cultured. Within the first 24h of primary culture, some parts of the cells were treated with colcemide for 3 h so that mitotic cells could be observed in the first cell cycle in vitro. Cultured embryonic fibroblasts in metaphase plates showed a marked dose-dependence in chromosomal aberrations. Transplacental application of AF-2 also caused slightly dose-dependent morphological transformation. When some transformed colonies were cloned and transferred to the hamster cheek pouch, these cells produced tumors in the host animals. This new in vivo--in vitro combination assay system is considered to be useful for detection of environmental potential carcinogens.