Inhibition of intercellular junctional communication in human fibroblasts by triphenylmethane, triphenylmethylchloride, tetraphenylboron and related compounds.

Intercellular junctional communication was measured using [14C]citrulline incorporation in co-cultures of argininosuccinate synthetase-deficient and argininosuccinate lyase-deficient human fibroblasts. Triphenylmethane, triphenylmethylchloride and tetraphenylboron inhibited communication at concentrations at least 12-fold lower than cytotoxic concentrations. This inhibition was of rapid onset and was rapidly reversible by washing the co-cultures. Refractoriness to inhibition did not develop after prolonged exposure. Several other compounds also induced communication inhibition, but only at concentrations slightly below cytotoxic concentrations. Treatment of co-cultures with calcium ionophore A23187 or cycloheximide did not cause communication inhibition. It is suggested that triphenylmethane, triphenylchloride and tetraphenylboron may be useful inhibitors for studying the roles of intercellular junctional communication in some biological systems.