Differences in adenylate cyclase activities in murine normal cells and bladder tumor cells in tissue culture

Cyclic AMP may be involved in the modulation of cell growth. The present work sought to further define differences between normal cells and tumor cells in their cyclic AMP system. Mouse embryo fibroblasts and murine bladder transitional epithelium tumor cells were grown in vitro; at various times, adenyl cyclase activity was assayed by measuring the conversion of [alpha32P]ATP to cyclic AM32P; stimulation by prostaglandin E1 or sodium fluoride was also determined. Base line and fluoride-stimulated enzyme activity were significantly greater in normal cells than tumor cells (P less than 0.01), and reached a peak at day 2; at confluency, levels in both systems decreased. Prostaglandin E1-stimulated levels, in contrast, were greater in tumor cells, there being a 10 fold greater relative stimulation in these cells compared to normal cells (P less than 0.01). Findings of a possibly greater sensitivity in these tumor cells may be important in a therapeutic modulation of tumor growth.