The carcinogen chromate causes DNA damage and inhibits drug-mediated induction of porphyrin accumulation and glucuronidation in chick embryo hepatocytes.

DNA damage by chromate in chick embryo hepatocytes has been correlated with the effect of chromate on inducible cell functions. Treatment of chick embryo hepatocytes with chromium(VI) in the form of sodium chromate resulted in the rapid uptake of chromate and the induction of DNA lesions in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. DNA interstrand cross-links, strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks, as measured by the alkaline elution technique, were observed after treatment of the hepatocytes with chromate concentrations (2.5- 0 microM) which did not affect cell viability. The effect of chromate on inducible cell functions was measured by assaying propylisopropylacetamide-induced accumulation of porphyrin and glucuronidation of phenol red by intact cells. Chromate inhibited propylisopropylacetamide-induction of porphyrin accumulation and phenol red glucuronidation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner which paralleled DNA damage. DNA damage was removed and inducibility of porphyrin accumulation by propylisopropylacetamide plus deferoxamine methanesulfonate was restored 21 h following a 2 h pretreatment with chromate. Chromium(III) in the form of chromic nitrate at concentrations up to 25 times those used with chromate had no effect on DNA damage or the induction of porphyrin accumulation and phenol red glucuronidation by propylisopropylacetamide in the cultured chick hepatocytes.