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Hormonal Modification of Adenovirus Transformation of Hamster Cells in Vitro¹

Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology [G. E. M.], and Department of Veterinary Pathology [J. P. S., D. S. Y.], The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Primary hamster embryo cells were grown in vitro with Dulbecco's minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% dialyzed, virus-screened fetal calf serum and adjusted to 0.1 mM Ca⁺⁺. Cultures were segregated according to sex. Human adenovirus type 12 (Ad-12) induced foci of morphologically transformed cells in both sexes 10 to 12 days postinfection. The number of foci in replicate cultures did not vary statistically. Consistently more foci developed in female cultures than in similarly infected male cultures. Transformation was more efficient in pooled cultures of the same sex than in cultures grown from a single embryo. Significant enhancement (p < 0.01) of transformation occurred in female cultures treated with cortisone acetate, 5 µg/ml, and in male cells treated with dexamethasone, 5 µg/ml. Marked inhibition (p = 0.001) of Ad-12 transformation occurred in female and male cells treated with estrovarin, 0.1 µg/ml, and of male cells treated with aldosterone, 10 µg/ml, or progesterone, 10 µg/ml. Estrone and testosterone inhibited transformation of male cells slightly less markedly (p 0.01) and had no effect on female cells. The mechanisms of enhancement and of inhibition are not clear. Cortisone acetate did not prevent cytotoxic effects (cell killing) in female cells by Ad-12. It seemed unlikely that cortisone acetate acted directly on the virus. The efficiency of transformation of hamster cells by Ad-12 is influenced by interrelationships between calcium concentration, in the media, glucocorticoid activity of the steroid, and cell sex.

¹ Supported in part by Contract PH-43-65-1001 from the Special Virus Cancer Program of the National Cancer Institute and by Contract NIH-NCI-72-2047 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH.

Received 11/30/71. Accepted 7/26/72.