AbstractÐThe efects of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity and DNA adduct formation in PC-3 cells (human prostate tumor) was studied. PC-3 cells were placed into tissue culture ¯asks and grown in an incubator as cytosols and intact cells. The BHA or BHT were added to the cytosols and intact cells. The NAT activity in cytosol and intact PC-3
cells were measured by HPLC assaying exhibited for the amounts of N-acetyl-2-amino¯uorene and N-acetyl-p-aminobenzoic acid, 2-amino¯uorene and p-aminobenzoic acid. The NAT activity in PC-3 cells and cytosols were inhibited by BHA or BHT in a dose-dependent manner; that is, the higher the concentrations of BHA or BHT the higher inhibition of NAT activity. The NAT values of Km and Vmax from PC-3 cells were also decreased by BHA or BHT in both cytosols and intact cells. The data also demonstrated concomitant expo-
sure to BHA or BHT decreased AF±DNA adduct formation which was seen in the PC-3 cells. In addition, the formation of DNA adduct was decreased after BHA or BHT exposure. These ®ndings suggested the usefulness of using human cultured PC-3 cells for assessing arylamine-induced DNA adduct formation. Furthermore, the ®ndings illustrate how eectively BHA or BHT reduce the adduct formation.
