DETECTION OF DNA SINGLE-STRAND BREAKS AND UNSCHEDULED DNA SYNTHESIS INDUCED BY PROCARCINOGENS IN PRIMARY CULTURES OF RAT HEPATOCYTES

Procarcinogen induced DNA single-strand breaks and unschduled DNA synthesis were measured in primary rat hepatocytes culture. For DNA single-strand breaks assay, rat liver DNA was prelabeled by injection 3H-thymidine during the peak of DNA synthesis following partial hepatectomy. Hepatocytes were isolated from the rat 2 weeks after surgery by a collagenase perfusion techinique and maintained as monolayers in serum free medium on collagen-coated culture dishes. DNA sigle-strand breaks were measured by the alkaline elution techinique.