Abstract
The effects of heliotrine on human embryo hepatocytes in culture and on cells of a continuous cell line derived from human liver were investigated. Cell necrosis did not occur but cytological changes consisting mainly of cytoplasmic vacuolation were produced in the hepatocytes. Progressive hypertrophy of the hepatocytes and of cells of the continuous line was observed. The enlargement of the cells increased both with the concentration and the period of exposure to the alkaloid.
Heliotrine inhibited the synthesis of nucleic acids and protein by all the cell types present in primary cultures of the liver. The experimental data indicated that the action of heliotrine was primarily on the synthesis of DNA but some inhibition of RNA synthesis also occurred. It is proposed that heliotrine acts mainly in the major groove of the DNA helix inhibiting the DNA polymerase but there is also an effect on the RNA polymerase in the minor groove. The mechanism of action of heliotrine could be similar to the action of some of the antibiotics, in particular aflatoxin B1.
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