Effect of the suspected tumor promoters saccharin, cyclamate, and phenol on nerve growth factor binding and response in cultured embryonic chick ganglia.

The suspected bladder tumor promoters saccharin and cyclamate reversibly inhibited nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in embryonic chick sensory ganglia, and active concentrations of these artificial sweeteners inhibited binding of 125I-labeled mouse submaxillary gland nerve growth factor as well. The skin tumor promoter phenol also reversibly inhibited neurite outgrowth, while comparable concentrations of the nonpromoting but structurally related compounds benzene and fluorobenzene did not. However, in contrast to findings with saccharin and cyclamate, phenol had little, if any, effect on binding of radioactive nerve growth factor.