Chromosomal, mitochondrial and metabolic alterations in SV40-transformed rabbit chondrocytes

Karyotype, mitochondrial ultrastructure and several enzymatic activities were studied in two clones, D22 and D27, from SV40-transformed rabbit chondrocytes. Similar chromosome alterations, with recurrent losses and gains were observed at the various passages. Mitochondria were rare, with increase in size and crest alterations. By comparison to non-transformed rabbit chondrocytes, activities of superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase were increased, those of glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione-S-transferase fluctuated according to passages, thymidylate synthase decreased, thymidine kinase and hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyl-transferase increased and the ratio lactate dehydrogenase B/A increased. In most cases, these variations were correlated with the number of chromosomes carrying the genes encoding for corresponding enzymes. These results, compared to those obtained in SV40-transformed human fibroblasts, demonstrate that the two cell types behave differently for detoxication systems against oxygen radicals, in particular for SOD2 activity, and have opposite imbalances of chromosomes carrying the corresponding genes.