Effects of tumor promoters and related compounds on electric relations between giant cells of the salivary glands of Chironomus tentans larvae

The action of 15 chemicals, being tumor-promoters and/or inhibitors of cell-to-cell communications in vitro upon electric relations between giant cells of salivary gland of the Chironomus tentans larvae are studied. It is shown that out of 11 compounds disturbing the intercellular contacts in this model, 10 chemicals are tumour-promoters (Aroclor 1254, butylated hydroxytoluene, di(ethylhexyl)phthalate, DDT, deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, oleic acid, anthralin, iodine-acetate, tween-80) and 1 compound (oleoyl-acetyl-glycerol) is not studied for the promoting activity. At the same time, two other tumor-promoters (phenobarbital and TPA) as well as two nontumor-promoters (phorbol and chlorpromazine) do not influence the electric relations. The possibilities of using the developed test-system for the screening of the tumour-promoters are discussed.