Genotoxicity studies of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT)

The potential genotoxicity of the rodent liver carcinogen 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) was evaluated in compliance with the guidelines for genotoxicity studies of drugs (Notification No. 1604, Nov. 1, 1999, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan) and the OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals by performing the bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay, the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay, and the in vivo comet assay (alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis) in rat liver. In the Ames assay, 2,6-DNT was moderately positive irrespective of metabolic activation. In the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay, under conditions where the test substance would precipitate out, weak structural aberrations were observed with or without S9 mix at each dose at which the cell growth rate was about 40 to 50%. The in vivo comet assay yielded positive results in rat liver; that is to say, the increases in % tail DNA in liver in the 25 and 50 mg/kg groups were observed statistically significantly and dose-dependent. Our findings are in accordance with previous findings in the in vivo/in vitro unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) assay in rat liver and in a young rat liver micronucleus assay, although the rat bone marrow micronucleus assay gave negative results. These results suggest that test systems using liver are a useful method for the in vivo genotoxicity assessment of chemicals that require metabolic activation.     

The genotoxicity of diaveridine and trimethoprim

We examined the genotoxicity of diaveridine and trimethoprim in the bacterial umu test, the bacterial reverse mutation test, the in vitro chromosome aberration test, the in vivo rodent bone marrow micronucleus test in two species, and the in vivo comet assay in five mouse organs. Both compounds were negative in the umu test (Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002) and in the reverse mutation tests (S. typhimurium TA100, TA98, TA97, TA102, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA/pKM101) in the presence and absence of S9 mix. Diaveridine induced structural chromosome aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster CHL cells in the absence of a metabolic activation system, but not in the presence of a liver S9 fraction. No clastogenic activity in CHL cells was detected for trimethoprim. Bone marrow micronucleus tests in mice and rats conducted on diaveridine by single- and triple-oral dosing protocols were negative. The comet assay revealed that a single oral administration of diaveridine significantly induced DNA damage in liver, kidney, lung, and spleen cells, but not in bone marrow cells. The significant increase in migration values of DNA was reproducible with dose-response relationship. We suggest that the liver detoxifies the compound before it reaches the bone marrow, and that is why it is negative in the in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test. We concluded that diaveridine is genotoxic to mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo.     

Investigating genotoxic and hematotoxic effects of N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine and N-nitrosodiethanolamine in the hen's egg-micronucleus test (HET-MN).

The hen's egg test for micronucleus induction (HET-MN) combines the use of the commonly accepted genetic endpoint "formation of micronuclei" with the well-characterized and complex model of the incubated hen's egg, which enables metabolic activation, elimination and excretion of xenobiotics including mutagens and promutagens and does not conflict with animal protection regulations and ethical aspects. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) produced clearly positive, dose-dependent and reproducible results in this assay. NDMA revealed, in accordance with literature data, a much higher mutagenicity than NDEA. For both compounds the sensitivity of HETMN was to a large extent higher than published for the rodent micronucleus test, which is not capable of unequivocally identifying NDEA as positive. Additionally, NDEA induced severe anemia without obscuring the formation of micronucleated cells. N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA), which in the literature is described as a non-mutagenic animal carcinogen, could clearly be confirmed as non-mutagenic in the HETMN without showing any disturbing effects on the formation of erythrocytes. The micronucleus frequencies of the concurrent negative controls of all experiments was in agreement with the historic negative control from 302 eggs and 412,532 cells. The same is true for the historic control of proliferation marker from 61 eggs and 13,020 cells. We interpret these results, which correspond well to published data from animal tests, as being further support for using the HET-MN as a reliable alternative genotoxicity assay system, which is physiologically closer to in vivo conditions than in vitro genotoxicity tests, and allows the observation of further local and systemic effects.     

Chinese hamster ovary cell assays for mutation and chromosome damage: data from non-carcinogens

In vitro genotoxicity tests are employed to screen chemicals for their capability to cause various DNA and chromosomal alterations, and the results are often used to predict their potential for carcinogenicity. However, there is controversy regarding the apparent low specificity of some in vitro genotoxicity assays, which result in a high false positive rate. Since we use and rely upon in vitro assays for risk assessment and prediction of carcinogenicity, this specificity issue is of serious concern to us. Hence, we selected ten compounds deemed non-carcinogens in the literature to test for the induction of gene mutation and chromosomal damage using the Chinese hamster ovary cell/hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (CHO/HGPRT) mutation assay performed concurrently with a CHO micronucleus assay. The chemical exposures for the two end-points were done simultaneously. The protocol for the two end-points was developed using the carcinogens N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 3-methylcholanthrene, cyclophosphamide and 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene. The non-carcinogens chosen were 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride, 3-nitropropionic acid, dichlorvos, 2-(chloromethyl)pyridine, N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine 2HCl, O-anthranilic acid, 4-nitroanthranilic acid, anilazine and triphenyltin hydroxide. Each of these chemicals had been reported positive in the Ames test and/or the mouse lymphoma TK+/- mutation assay. In addition, eight of them were also reported positive in in vitro assays for chromosome aberrations and/or sister chromatid exchange (SCE). We found four of the ten chemicals negative for gene mutation and micronucleus induction without and with activation in the CHO/HGPRT mutation and CHO micronucleus assays. However, one of these four chemicals may be a potential carcinogen according to other carcinogenicity reviewers. Four other chemicals that induced only micronuclei were negative for gene mutation. Dichlorvos was positive for gene mutation and micronucleus induction without and with activation. This chemical has been shown recently to cause various tumors in rodents. One of the non-carcinogens was positive in the micronucleus test and equivocally positive in the mutation test. These results indicate that the CHO/HGPRT mutation assay may provide more relevant results than the CHO micronucleus assay, the mouse lymphoma mutation assay, or in vitro SCE and chromosome aberration assays when screening chemicals for potential carcinogenicity.     

The comet assay with multiple mouse organs: comparison of comet assay results and carcinogenicity with 208 chemicals selected from the IARC monographs and U.S. NTP Carcinogenicity Database

The comet assay is a microgel electrophoresis technique for detecting DNA damage at the level of the single cell. When this technique is applied to detect genotoxicity in experimental animals, the most important advantage is that DNA lesions can be measured in any organ, regardless of the extent of mitotic activity. The purpose of this article is to summarize the in vivo genotoxicity in eight organs of the mouse of 208 chemicals selected from International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Groups 1, 2A, 2B, 3, and 4, and from the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) Carcinogenicity Database, and to discuss the utility of the comet assay in genetic toxicology. Alkylating agents, amides, aromatic amines, azo compounds, cyclic nitro compounds, hydrazines, halides having reactive halogens, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were chemicals showing high positive effects in this assay. The responses detected reflected the ability of this assay to detect the fragmentation of DNA molecules produced by DNA single strand breaks induced chemically and those derived from alkali-labile sites developed from alkylated bases and bulky base adducts. The mouse or rat organs exhibiting increased levels of DNA damage were not necessarily the target organs for carcinogenicity. It was rare, in contrast, for the target organs not to show DNA damage. Therefore, organ-specific genotoxicity was necessary but not sufficient for the prediction of organ-specific carcinogenicity. It would be expected that DNA crosslinkers would be difficult to detect by this assay, because of the resulting inhibition of DNA unwinding. The proportion of 10 DNA crosslinkers that was positive, however, was high in the gastrointestinal mucosa, stomach, and colon, but less than 50% in the liver and lung. It was interesting that the genotoxicity of DNA crosslinkers could be detected in the gastrointestinal organs even though the agents were administered intraperitoneally. Chemical carcinogens can be classified as genotoxic (Ames test-positive) and putative nongenotoxic (Ames test-negative) carcinogens. The Ames test is generally used as a first screening method to assess chemical genotoxicity and has provided extensive information on DNA reactivity. Out of 208 chemicals studied, 117 are Ames test-positive rodent carcinogens, 43 are Ames test-negative rodent carcinogens, and 30 are rodent noncarcinogens (which include both Ames test-positive and negative noncarcinogens). High positive response ratio (110/117) for rodent genotoxic carcinogens and a high negative response ratio (6/30) for rodent noncarcinogens were shown in the comet assay. For Ames test-negative rodent carcinogens, less than 50% were positive in the comet assay, suggesting that the assay, which detects DNA lesions, is not suitable for identifying nongenotoxic carcinogens. In the safety evaluation of chemicals, it is important to demonstrate that Ames test-positive agents are not genotoxic in vivo. This assay had a high positive response ratio for rodent genotoxic carcinogens and a high negative response ratio for rodent genotoxic noncarcinogens, suggesting that the comet assay can be used to evaluate the in vivo genotoxicity of in vitro genotoxic chemicals. For chemicals whose in vivo genotoxicity has been tested in multiple organs by the comet assay, published data are summarized with unpublished data and compared with relevant genotoxicity and carcinogenicity data. Because it is clear that no single test is capable of detecting all relevant genotoxic agents, the usual approach should be to carry out a battery of in vitro and in vivo tests for genotoxicity. The conventional micronucleus test in the hematopoietic system is a simple method to assess in vivo clastogenicity of chemicals. Its performance is related to whether a chemical reaches the hematopoietic system. Among 208 chemicals studied (including 165 rodent carcinogens), 54 rodents carcinogens do not induce micronuclei in mouse hematopoietic system despite the positive finding with one or two in vitro tests. Forty-nine of 54 rodent carcinogens that do not induce micronuclei were positive in the comet assay, suggesting that the comet assay can be used as a further in vivo test apart from the cytogenetic assays in hematopoietic cells. In this review, we provide one recommendation for the in vivo comet assay protocol based on our own data.     

Selection and Evaluation of an Appropriate Model for Screening Adenosine Analogs for Chromosome Aberrations

As part of a preclinical safety assessment profile, the adenosine analog SC-46267, a candidate antihypertensive drug, was tested for potential genotoxicity in a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. Negative results were obtained in the Salmonella/microsome and CHO/HGPRT point mutation assays and in an acute mouse micronucleus test. However, in the presence of exogenous metabolism, positive results in the mouse lymphoma L5178Y assay and an in vitro chromosome aberration assay with purified rat lymphocytes indicated that the analog was a potential clastogen. Both adenosine and the analog were subsequently tested in rat lymphocytes using whole-blood versus purified lymphocyte cultures. High concentrations of adenosine and the adenosine analog induced chromosome aberrations in the purified lymphocytes. However, neither compound induced chromosome damage when cultured in the presence of whole blood, regardless of the presence or absence of the metabolic activation system. These results were similar to those reported in the literature that suggested that high concentrations of adenosine and other naturally occurring nucleotides can produce nonphysiological perturbations of nucleotide pools that are clastogenic in purified cultures of lymphocytes but not in whole-blood cultures. Our studies appear to support the hypothesis that adenosine deaminase, present at normal physiological levels in whole blood, is capable of detoxifying excessive levels of adenosine. Both compounds were also negative in a 10-day repeated dose mouse micronucleus test, which further ensures that the positive in vitro findings are not biologically significant. An in vitro clastogenicity assay using whole blood appears to be more appropriate than use of purified lymphocytes for screening adenosine analogs. The results from this series of experiments demonstrate the importance of considering culture conditions when designing in vitro test protocols. Furthermore, this study exemplifies the need to explore the mechanisms of activity as well as in vivo relevance of in vitro results.     

Genetic toxicology studies with glutaraldehyde.

Glutaraldehyde (GA; CAS no. 111-30-8) has a wide spectrum of industrial, scientific and biomedical applications, with a potential for human exposure particularly in its biocidal applications. The likelihood for genotoxic effects was investigated in vitro and in vivo. A Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay showed no evidence for mutagenic activity with strains TA98, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538, with or without metabolic activation. However, there was a weak mutagenic response (1.9-2.3-fold at the highest non-toxic concentration) with TA100 in the presence of metabolic activation. In a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) forward gene mutation assay (HGPRT locus) there were no consistent, statistically significant, reproducible or dosage-related increases in the frequency of 6-thioguanine resistant cells. There were no reproducible or dosage-related increases in sister chromatid exchanges in an in vitro test in CHO cells. An in vitro cytogenetics study in CHO cells showed no evidence for an increase in chromosomal aberrations on treatment with GA, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. In vivo, a mouse peripheral blood micronucleus test showed no increase in micronucleated polychromatophils at sampling times of 30, 48 and 72 h after acute gavage dosing with GA at 40, 80 and 125 mg kg(-1) (corresponding to 25, 50 and 85% of the LD(50)). The absence of an in vivo clastogenic potential was confirmed by no increase in chromosomal aberrations in a rat bone marrow cytogenetics study with sampling at 12, 24 and 48 h after acute gavage dosing with GA (12.5, 30 or 60 mg kg(-1) with males, and 7.5, 20 or 40 mg kg(-1) with females). Thus, in this series of tests, GA produced genotoxic effects in vitro only in a bacterial reverse mutation assay with no evidence for in vivo genotoxicity.     

Genotoxicity of motorcycle exhaust particles in vivo and in vitro.

We studied the genotoxic potency of motorcycle exhaust particles (MEP) by using a bacterial reversion assay and chromosome aberration and micronucleus tests. In the bacterial reversion assay (Ames test), MEP concentration-dependently increased TA98, TA100, and TA102 revertants in the presence of metabolic-activating enzymes. In the chromosome aberration test, MEP concentration-dependently increased abnormal structural chromosomes in CHO-K1 cells both with and without S9. Pretreatment with antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, catalase, and NAC) showed varying degrees of inhibitory effect on the MEP-induced mutagenic effect and chromosome structural abnormalities. In the in vivo micronucleus test, MEP dose-dependently induced micronucleus formation in peripheral red blood cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment. The increase of micronucleated reticulocytes induced by MEP was inhibited by pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol and ascorbate. The fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA-loaded CHO-K1 cells was increased upon the addition of MEP. Our data suggest that MEP can induce genotoxicity through a reactive oxygen species-(ROS-) dependent pathway, which can be augmented by metabolic activation. Alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, catalase, and NAC can inhibit MEP-induced genotoxicity, indicating that ROS might be involved in this effect.     

Investigating the relationship between in vitro-in vivo genotoxicity: derivation of mechanistic QSAR models for in vivo liver genotoxicity and in vivo bone marrow micronucleus formation which encompass metabolism

Strategic testing as part of an integrated testing strategy (ITS) to maximize information and avoid the use of animals where possible is fast becoming the norm with the advent of new legislation such as REACH. Genotoxicity is an area where regulatory testing is clearly defined as part of ITS schemes. Under REACH, the specific information requirements depend on the tonnage manufactured or imported. Two types of test systems exist to meet these information requirements, in vivo genotoxicity assays, which take into account the whole animal, and in vitro assays, which are conducted outside the living mammalian organism using microbial or mammalian cells under appropriate culturing conditions. Clearly, with these different broad experimental categories, results for a given chemical can often differ, which presents challenges in the interpretation as well as in attempting to model the results in silico. This study attempted to compare the differences between in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity results, to rationalize these differences with plausible hypothesis in concert with available data. Two proof of concept (Q)SAR models were developed, one for in vivo genotoxicity effects in liver and a second for in vivo micronucleus formation in bone marrow. These "mechanistic models" will be of practical value in testing strategies, and both have been implemented into the TIMES software platform ( http://oasis-lmc.org ) to help predict the genotoxicity outcome of new untested chemicals.     

Furan is not genotoxic in the micronucleus assay in vivo or in vitro

Furan, a potential human carcinogen, is formed during heat-treatment of food. Previous studies of the genotoxicity of furan have given disparate results. Hence, there is a need for complementary data to clarify the mechanism behind the carcinogenicity of furan. In this study, we have used the flow cytometer-based micronucleus assay in mice and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes to investigate the genotoxic potential of furan. Three in vivo experiments were performed: intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection of furan in male Balb/C mice (0-300 and 0-275 mg/kg body weight, respectively) and intraperitoneal injection of male CBA mice (0 and 225 mg/kg body weight). No increased level of micronucleated erythrocytes was detected in any of the in vivo experiments. In the in vitro setup, human lymphocytes from two donors were treated with furan in concentrations from 0 to 100 mM, either with or without metabolic activation (liver homogenate from rat). In parity with the in vivo results there was no significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells here either. As neither the in vivo nor the in vitro studies disclose any significant increase in the micronucleus frequency after treatment with furan, our results support that the carcinogenicity of furan is caused by a non-genotoxic mechanism.     

不同水处理工艺的自来水出厂水中有机物的遗传毒性

目的检测和评价某市6家A,B,C,D,E和F厂采用不同水处理工艺自来水厂出厂水中有机物的遗传毒性。方法通过鼠伤寒沙门菌致突变实验、微核实验及微量波动实验检测与比较各水样中有机物的致突变性。结果 6家自来水厂出厂水中有机物的鼠伤寒沙门菌致突变实验结果均为阳性;各厂出厂水中有机物诱导的小鼠骨髓细胞微核率由高至低依次为:D>E=A>C>F>B;C厂后加氯单元出水中有机物在每板0.25 L的剂量下,微量波动实验对于TA98,TA100均出现阳性结果,并且各剂量的阳性反应孔存在明显的剂量反应关系(P<0.05)。结论某市6家自来水厂出厂水中的有机物具有明显的致突变作用,且以移码突变为主;微核实验与Ames实验对水中有机物遗传毒性检测与评价结果基本一致;微量波动实验可提高对水中有机物致突变性检测的灵敏度。     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the genotoxic potential of 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol

2-Ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD) has intentional human exposure because of its application to skin as an insect repellent and its use in various skin care products. Genotoxicity studies on EHD were conducted to determine mutagenic and clastogenic potential using in vitro and in vivo test systems. In vitro tests were conducted both with and without an Aroclor-induced, rat-liver S9 metabolic activation system and within a range of cytotoxic to non-cytotoxic doses. EHD did not produce dose-related positive increases in gene mutations in the Salmonella (Ames) test or in the CHO/HGPRT forward mutation test. No statistically significant or dose-related increases in sister chromatid exchanges indicative of DNA damage were produced by EHD in CHO cells. Small but statistically significant increases in chromosome aberrations were produced in CHO cells only in tests with S9 activation. However, no evidence of clastogenicity of EHD was obtained in vivo in a mouse peripheral blood micronucleus test or in 2 rat bone marrow chromosome aberration studies using single or repeated dosing procedures. The overall negative pattern of mutagenic and clastogenic results in the majority of tests conducted suggests that EHD is unlikely to pose significant hazard as a genotoxic agent or to possess carcinogenic initiating activity in animals.     

A review of the genotoxicity of triallate

Triallate is a selective herbicidal chemical used for control of wild oats in wheat. It has an extensive genotoxicity database that includes a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies. The chemical has produced mixed results in in vitro assay systems. It was genotoxic in bacterial mutation Ames assays, predominantly in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA1535 in the presence of S9. Weaker responses have been observed in TA100 and TA1535 in the absence of S9. Mixed results have been observed in strain TA98, whereas no genotoxicity has been observed in strains TA1537 and TA1538. The presence and absence of S9 and its source seem to play a role in the bacterial response to the chemical. There have also been conflicting results in other test systems using other bacterial genera, yeast, and mammalian cells. Chromosome effects assays (sister-chromatid exchange and cytogenetics assays) have produced mixed results with S9 but no genotoxicity without S9. Triallate has not produced any genotoxicity in in vitro DNA damage or unscheduled DNA synthesis assays using EUE cells, human lymphocytes, and rat and mouse hepatocytes. In a series of in vivo genotoxicity assays (cytogenetics, micronucleus, dominant lethal, and unscheduled DNA synthesis), there has been no indication of any adverse genotoxic effect. Metabolism data indicate that the probable explanation for the differences observed between the in vitro studies with S9 and without S9 and between the in vitro and the in vivo studies is the production of a mutagenic intermediate in vitro at high doses of triallate is expected to be at most only transiently present in in vivo studies. The weight of evidence strongly suggests that triallate is not likely to exert mutagenic activity in vivo due to toxicokinetics and metabolic processes leading to detoxification.     

Genotoxicity study of a new tetraalkylammonium derivative of 6-methyluracil (agent No. 547)

Agent No. 547 (1,3-bis[omega-(diethyl-ortho-nitrobenzylammonio)-pentyl]-6-methyluracil dibromide), a newly synthesized inhibitor of mammalian-specific acetyltcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) was investigated for genotoxicity using the DNA-repair test, Ames test and in vivo micronucleus test with mouse peripheral blood erythrocytes. Agent No. 547 did not cause significant changes in growth of repair-deficient Escherichia coli tester strains. The compound was non-mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 with and without rat microsomal activation mixture. However, we observed a marked increase in number of His(+) revertants for both tester strains in preincubation assays. The results obtained in the micronucleus test indicate that agent No. 547 possesses significant clastogenic activity. At the high dose tested (0.5 mg/kg), the compound induced a seven-fold increase in the number of micronuclei over the spontaneous background 48 h after treatment. The results suggest that further work should be promoted to identify the metabolic pathways involved in genotoxicity of agent No. 547 in mammalian cells and to evaluate the real risk of its exposure.     

Study of the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the carbonyl ruthenium(II) compound,ct‐[RuCl(CO)(dppb)(bipy)]PF6 [dppb = 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine], by in vitro and in vivo assays

Considering the promising previous results of ct‐[RuCl(CO)(dppb)(bipy)]PF₆ (where dppb = 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) as an antitumor agent, novel biological assays evaluating its toxicogenic potential were performed. The genotoxicity of the compound was evaluated by the in vitro micronucleus test (V79, Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts; HepG2, hepatocellular carcinoma cells), in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test and comet assay in hepatocytes (Swiss mice). The animals were treated with 0.63, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg body weight (bw) of the compound. Negative (water) and positive (cisplatin, 1.5 mg/kg bw; methyl methanesulfonate, 40 mg/kg bw) controls were included. The parameters considered in the comet assay were the percentage of tail DNA, tail moment and tail length. The results of the in vitro micronucleus tests showed the absence of genotoxicity in V79 cells, while the compound was genotoxic in HepG2 cells at a concentration of 1.25 μm . In the in vivo micronucleus test, the compound was not genotoxic at the different doses evaluated. In the comet assay, only the dose of 5.0 mg/kg bw resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of DNA damage in hepatocytes when compared to the negative control. The genotoxic effect observed in HepG2 cells and in the liver comet assay indicates that the compound was metabolized by hepatic cells.     

Genotoxicity studies on licorice flavonoid oil (LFO)

Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) is a new functional food ingredient. In this study, the genotoxicity of LFO was investigated using a test battery of three different methods. In a reverse mutation assay using four Salmonella typhimurium strains and Escherichia coli, LFO did not increase the number of revertant colonies in any tester strain with or without metabolic activation by rat liver S9 mix. In a chromosomal aberration test using Chinese hamster lung (CHL/IU) cells, LFO did not induce any chromosomal aberrations either in the short period test without rat liver S9 mix or in the continuous treatment (24 h or 48 h) test. However, in the short-period test with rat liver S9 mix, LFO induced structural chromosomal aberrations at concentrations higher than 0.6 mg/mL. A bone marrow micronucleus test using male F344 rats was initially conducted. The animals were dosed by oral gavage at doses up to 5000 mg/kg/day. No significant or dose-dependent increases in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) were observed and the high dose suppressed the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) to total erythrocytes. Subsequently, a liver and peripheral blood micronucleus test using male F344 rats was conducted. No micronuclei induction either in hepatocytes or PCE was observed even at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg/day. From the findings obtained from the genotoxicity assays performed in this study and the published pharmacokinetic studies of LFO, it appears unlikely that dietary consumption of LFO will present any genotoxic hazard to humans.     

聚乙二醇修饰降纤酶的遗传毒性评价

目的检测聚乙二醇修饰降纤酶的遗传毒性。方法应用鼠伤寒沙门菌回复突变试验(Ames试验)、体外培养CHO细胞染色体畸变试验和小鼠骨髓微核试验检测聚乙二醇修饰降纤酶的遗传毒性。结果 Ames试验结果显示每平皿100、20、4、0.8、0.16 U各个剂量组,在加或不加S9代谢活化系统时对组氨酸缺陷型鼠伤寒沙门菌TA97、TA98、TA100、TA102及TA1535所诱发的回复突变菌落数均与溶剂对照的突变菌落数相近。体外培养CHO细胞染色体畸变试验结果显示2.5、5.0和10.0 U.mL-1各个剂量组在加S9代谢活化系统于24 h和不加S9代谢活化系统于24 h、48 h培养的CHO细胞染色体畸变率与溶剂对照组比较均无显著差异(P>0.05)。小鼠骨髓微核试验显示425、850、1700 U.kg-1各个剂量组对ICR小鼠的微核诱发率与溶剂对照组比较均无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论聚乙二醇修饰降纤酶对鼠伤寒沙门菌无致突变性,对哺乳动物培养细胞的染色体无致畸变作用,对ICR小鼠无诱发骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核的效应。表明聚乙二醇修饰降纤酶在本实验条件下无遗传毒性。     

降血糖活性成分Bellidifolin遗传毒性研究

目的研究降血糖活性成分Bellidifolin的遗传毒性。方法整体试验采用小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核实验；体外试验采用鼠伤寒沙门菌组氨酸营养缺陷型TA97、TA98、TA100、TA102四个菌株，对Bellidifolin进行Ames实验。结果小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核发生率结果显示Bellidifolin高、中、低剂量组与阴性对照组比较均差异无显著性(均P＞0.05)；Ames实验显示,在实验设置浓度和加S9或不加S9的实验条件下，受试物对各菌株所诱发的回变菌落数,均未超过对照的2倍。结论实验结果为阴性，未见Bellidifolin有致突变性作用。     

GADD45a-GFP GreenScreen HC genotoxicity screening assay

BACKGROUND: Genetic toxicology is getting very interesting. The International Conference on Harmonisation has drafted new guidance that allows for the registration of pharmaceuticals without the submission of data from in vitro mammalian genotoxicity tests (in vitro micronucleus test, chromosomal aberrations, mouse lymphoma assay). These tests often produce falsely positive predictions of genotoxic carcinogenicity. OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the properties of the Gadd45a-GFP (green fluorescent protein) assay, for which positive results appear to provide more reliable predictions of genotoxic carcinogenicity. The criteria for assessment of genotoxicity assays are reviewed. Consideration is given to the value of genotoxicity hazard assessment early in pharmaceutical discovery. METHODS: Peer-reviewed data have been reviewed, as well as information contributed to the public domain through conference presentations. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The Gadd45a assay is increasingly used as a screening tool, and has utility in the prioritisation of Ames-negative compounds prior to in vivo genotoxicity assessment.