Effects of testosterone, testosterone propionate, 17 beta-trenbolone and progesterone on cell transformation and mutagenesis in Syrian hamster embryo cells.

Testosterone, testosterone propionate, 17 beta-trenbolone and progesterone, which represent the main endogenous and synthetic androgens and a progestin, were evaluated for possible cell transformation and genetic effects in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells. Cell growth was reduced by treatment with the steroids at 10-30 micrograms/ml in a dose-related manner. Testosterone and testosterone propionate were less toxic than the other two steroids. Testosterone, testosterone propionate and progesterone induced morphological transformation of SHE cells with similar transformation frequencies. The most potent effects were observed with testosterone propionate, which induced cell transformation at 1-30 micrograms/ml in a dose-related manner. Testosterone and progesterone transformed cells only at the highest dose (30 micrograms/ml). 17 beta-Trenbolone did not induce a statistically significant level of cell transformations at any dose tested (up to 30 micrograms/ml). The transformation frequencies induced by testosterone, testosterone propionate and progesterone were less than one-half that induced by benzo[a]pyrene at 1 microgram/ml. None of these steroids induced significant increases in frequencies of chromosome aberrations or aneuploidy. Gene mutations were not observed for testosterone at the HPRT or Na+/K+ ATPase locus. Because these steroids are also associated with carcinogenic activity in vivo, these in vitro findings provide a model and new insights into the study of the mechanisms of androgen- and progestin-induced cell transformation.