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Cytolytic Effect of 6-Hydroxydopamine on Neuroblastoma Cells¹

Laboratorio di Biologia Cellulare (CNR), Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy

The effect of a dopamine analog, 6-hydroxydopamine, was investigated in tissue culture of a cell line of human neuroblastoma, mouse neuroblastoma C-1300, and cultures of HeLa cells and mouse sarcoma 37. Addition to the cultured medium of 6-hydroxydopamine results in degeneration of human and mouse neuroblastoma cells, while other neoplastic cells and fibroblasts do not appear to be affected. The hypothesis that this toxic effect might be due to selective uptake of this dopamine analog was tested by pulse labeling mouse and human neuroblastoma in vitro with catecholamine-³H. In both experimental series, neoplastic cells were heavily labeled. The action of 6-hydroxydopamine was also explored by injecting it into mice bearing transplants of C-1300 neuroblastoma. Marked tumor regression was noticeable in all cases in the first week of treatment. Histological examination performed at the end of this period shows large areas of necrosis and cell degeneration throughout the neoplastic tissue. A decrease in the effectiveness of the treatment became apparent in subsequent days, however, as the tumor increased in size.

¹ This investigation was supported by Research Grant 449 from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Received 5/14/70. Accepted 8/13/70.