Reduction in cellular adhesiveness upon contact with a carcinogen.

In the experiments reported below, the inner aspects of the pinnae of rabbits' ear~ were treated for 1 hour with the carcinogen 7,1~-dimethylbenzanthracene, 1 per ce~t ~n acetone. Other ears were treated with the nonearcinogen anthracene in aeetone, and still other ears were left untreated. Discs of skin were removed from these ears, and the relative adhesiveness of the epidermal cells was determined by mechanical shaking and cell counts. I t was shown that exposure to the carcinogen resulted in a decreased adhesiveness of the epidermal cells, suggesting that an alteration of the eet] surface had occurred within 1 hour after contact with the carcinogen. The findings are discussed and further studies suggested.