The effect of agonists and antagonists on Hep-2 cells.

Androgens may play an important role in promoting the growth of laryngeal carcinomas. The aims of this investigation were to investigate the effects of (testosterone (T) and androstendione (AED)) in the presence of the anti-androgen, spironolactone (S), n Hep-2 cellular proliferation and damage after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Hep-2 cells were divided into six groups (n = 5) control, S, T, AED, S+T, and S+AED, respectively. The cells were harvested after each incubation period into two different fractions: suspended cells and adhered cells. Cell counts and cellular damage determinations were performed on each fraction. Analysis of variance was used to determine significance at p < 0.05. Data for cell counts revealed an interesting phenomenon between the two fractions. Adhered cells showed decreased cell numbers in the presence of S and T for 24 - 48 hours followed by a significant increase at 72 hours. Cells in the adhered fraction incubated in the presence of AED or AED + S were significantly lower for the duration of the experiment. However AED or AED + S treatment caused significant increase in cell number in suspended fraction for the duration of the experiment. All treatments after 72 hours showed a slight reduction in MDA levels indicating treatments did not cause cell damage. Overall, the data suggests the possibility of two populations of cells that respond differently to the AED. T had no significant effect on either cell fraction for the first 48 hours followed by a significant increase in cell number at 72 hours suggesting T may need to be converted enzymatically to the more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone.