EFFECTS OF N-ACYLETHANOLAMINES AND VARIOUS ANTIMITOTIC AGENTS ON APOPTOTIC DNA FRAGMENTATION IN CONVENTIONALLY NORMAL AND TUMOR TISSUE OF HUMAN ADRENALS

Kostyuchenko N., Pushkarev V., Kashevarov G., Tronko M., Komisarenko I., Mikosha O.

Aim: To study effects of N-acylethanolamines (NAE) and various antimitotic agents: taxol, colchicine, and cytochalasin B on the DNA fragmentation extent in conventionally normal (CNT) and tumor tissue of human adrenal cortex. Methods: Six types of adrenal tumor tissue of 84 patients were analyzed. Slices of tissue was incubated at 37 °C for 3 h in the presence of NAEs and antimito­tics, DNA was extracted and analysed in agarose gel. Results: It was established that NAEs enhanced apoptosis in conventionally normal and tumor tissue of adrenal glands. In general, tumor tissue was more sensitive to NAEs and antimitotic compounds than conventionally normal tissue. NAEs in combination with colchicine and cytochalasin B enhanced DNA fragmentation in some types of tumor tissue and did not influence, or even reduced it in CNT. Taxol revealed selective action depending on tumor tissue type. Considerable individual differences were reported in sensitiveness of different types of tumors to the NAEs and antimitotic agents. Conclusions: Taxol and combination of NAEs with colchicine and cytochalasin B are inductors of apoptosis in the adrenal tumor cells and thus promising for further investigation.