Binding of the chemical carcinogen N-hydroxy-acetyl-aminofluorene to ploidy classes of rat liver nuclei as separated by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity.

A large sedimentation device was developed that allows separation of 5 X 10(8) rat liver nuclei by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity. Using the apparatus isolated rat liver nuclei were separated into classes of diploid stromal (Von Kuppfer, sinusoidal lining) nuclei, diploid parenchymal nuclei and tetraploid parenchymal nuclei respectively. DNA content and volume of the nuclei were measured. Diploid nuclei were 100% pure; tetraploid nuclei 98%. The in vivo binding of the liver carcinogen [3H]-N-hydroxy-AAF to these classes of nuclei was determined (total binding to protein, DNA and RNA). Binding and the subsequent removal of the fluorene derivatives was registered as a function of time. At all stages diploid stromal nuclei bound 2.6--5 times less carcinogen than did diploid parenchymal nuclei. Tetraploid parenchymal nuclei bound more than twice (2.3--3.95) the amount, that was present in their diploid counterpart. This effect became more pronounced 11 days after application of N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene. DNA was enzymatically purified from pooled classes of the various nuclear types. For purified DNA also it was found that DNA derived from diploid stromal nuclei bound 2.6--2.8 times less carcinogen than did DNA derived from diploid parenchymal nuclei.