Mutagenicity of blue rayon extracts of fish bile as a biomarker in a field study

Blue rayon (BR) in combination with the Salmonella/microsome assay was used to evaluate the mutagenicity of fish bile samples. Specimens of Mugil curema from two sites were collected over a 1‐year period. Piaçaguera channel contains high concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants, while Bertioga channel was considered the reference sites in this study. Bile was extracted with BR and tested with TA98, TA100, and YG1041 strains with and without S9 in dose response experiments. PAH metabolite equivalents were analyzed using reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography /fluorescence. Higher mutagenic responses were observed for the contaminated site; YG1041 with S9 was the most sensitive strain/condition. Mutagenicity ranged from 3,900 to 14,000 rev./mg at the contaminated site and from 1,200 to 2,500 rev./mg of BR at the reference site. The responses of YG1041 were much higher in comparison with the TA98 indicating the presence of polycyclic compounds from the aromatic amine class that cause frameshift mutation. TA100 showed a positive mutagenic response that was enhanced following S9 treatment at both sites suggesting the presence of polycyclic compounds that require metabolic activation. benzo(a)pyrene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene metabolite equivalents were also higher in the bile of fish collected at the contaminated site. It was not possible to correlate the PAH metabolite quantities with the mutagenic potency. Thus, a combination of the Salmonella/microsome assay with YG1041 with S9 from BR bile extract seems to be an acceptable biomarker for monitoring the exposure of fish to mutagenic polycyclic compounds. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of the genotoxicity of river sediments from industrialized and unaffected areas using a battery of short-term bioassays

The present investigation evaluated the capacity of the Salmonella mutagenicity test, the comet assay, and the micronucleus assay to detect and characterize the genotoxic profile of river sediments. Three stations were selected on an urban river (Bouches du Rhône, France) exposed to various sources of industrial and urban pollution (StA, StB, and StC) and one station on its tributary (StD). One station in a nonurban river was included (REF). The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by HPLC, and the genotoxicity of the sediments was monitored by the Salmonella mutagenicity test (TA98 + S9, YG1041 ± S9), the comet assay, and the micronucleus assay on CHO cells. Chemical analysis showed that the total PAH concentrations ranged from 23 μg kg^?1 dw (REF) to 1285 μg kg^?1 dw (StD). All the sediments were mutagenic in the Salmonella mutagenicity test. The mutagenicity was probably induced by the presence of nitroarenes (StA, StB, StC, and StD) and aromatic amines (REF) as deduced from the mutagenicity profiles of strains YG1041 ± S9 and TA98 + S9. The comet assay revealed direct DNA lesions in REF, StA, and StB sediments and metabolization‐dependent DNA damage in StC and StD. The micronucleus assay showed an absence of clastogenicity for StA ± S9 and StC‐S9, and a significant clastogenicity ± S9 for the three other stations. The genotoxicity ranking determined by the comet assay + S9 matched the ranking of total and carcinogenic PAH concentrations, and this assay was found to be the most sensitive. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mutagenicity of an aged gasworks soil during bioslurry treatment

This study investigated changes in the mutagenic activity of organic fractions from soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pilot‐scale bioslurry remediation. Slurry samples were previously analyzed for changes in PAH and polycyclic aromatic compound content, and this study examined the correspondence between the chemical and toxicological metrics. Nonpolar neutral and semipolar aromatic fractions of samples obtained on days 0, 3, 7, 24, and 29 of treatment were assayed for mutagenicity using the Salmonella mutation assay. Most samples elicited a significant positive response on Salmonella strains TA98, YG1041, and YG1042 with and without S9 metabolic activation; however, TA100 failed to detect mutagenicity in any sample. Changes in the mutagenic activity of the fractions across treatment time and metabolic activation conditions suggests a pattern of formation and transformation of mutagenic compounds that may include a wide range of PAH derivatives such as aromatic amines, oxygenated PAHs, and S‐heterocyclic compounds. The prior chemical analyses documented the formation of oxygenated PAHs during the treatment (e.g., 4‐oxapyrene‐5‐one), and the mutagenicity analyses showed high corresponding activity in the semipolar fraction with and without metabolic activation. However, it could not be verified that these specific compounds were the underlying cause of the observed changes in mutagenic activity. The results highlight the need for concurrent chemical and toxicological profiling of contaminated sites undergoing remediation to ensure elimination of priority contaminants as well as a reduction in toxicological hazard. Moreover, the results imply that remediation efficacy and utility be evaluated using both chemical and toxicological metrics. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mutagenicity of the organic fraction of World Trade Center dust

Most studies of the health effects and chemical characterization of the dust resulting from the catastrophic collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001, have focused on the large inorganic fraction of the dust; however, chemical analyses have identified mutagens and carcinogens in the smaller organic fraction. Here, we determined the mutagenicity of the organic fraction of WTC dust in Salmonella. Only 0.74% of the mass of the particulate matter (PM) <53 μm in diameter was extractable organic matter (EOM). Because the EOM was 10 times more mutagenic in TA100 +S9 than in TA98 +S9 and was negative in TA98 −S9, we inferred, respectively, that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) played a role in the mutagenicity and not nitroarenes. In TA98 +S9, the mutagenic potency of the EOM (0.1 revertant/μg EOM) was within the range of EOMs from air and combustion emissions. However, the EOM-based mutagenic potency of the particles (0.0007 revertants/μg PM) was 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than values from a review of 50 combustion emissions and various air samples. We calculated that 37 PAHs analyzed previously in WTC EOM were 5.4% of the EOM mass and 0.04% of the PM mass; some air contained 0.3 μg WTC EOM/m³ (0.02 μg PAHs/m³). Populations exposed to WTC dust have elevated levels of prostate and thyroid cancer but not lung cancer. Our data support earlier estimates that PAH-associated cancer risk among this population, for example, PAH-associated lung cancer, was unlikely to be significantly elevated relative to background PAH exposures.     

Mutagenicity and oxidative damage induced by an organic extract of the particulate emissions from a simulation of the deepwater horizon surface oil burns

Emissions from oil fires associated with the “Deepwater Horizon” explosion and oil discharge that began on April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico were analyzed chemically to only a limited extent at the time but were shown to induce oxidative damage in vitro and in mice. To extend this work, we burned oil floating on sea water and performed extensive chemical analyses of the emissions (Gullett et al., Marine Pollut Bull, in press, 2017 ). Here, we examine the ability of a dichloromethane extract of the particulate material with an aerodynamic size ≤ 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) from those emissions to induce oxidative damage in human lung cells in vitro and mutagenicity in 6 strains of Salmonella. The extract had a percentage of extractable organic material (EOM) of 7.0% and increased expression of the heme oxygenase (HMOX1) gene in BEAS‐2B cells after exposure for 4 hr at 20 µg of EOM/ml. However, the extract did not alter mitochondrial respiration rate as measured by extracellular flux analysis. The extract was most mutagenic in TA100 +S9, indicative of a role for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), reflective of the high concentrations of PAHs in the emissions (1 g/kg of oil consumed). The extract had a mutagenicity emission factor of 1.8 ± 0.1 × 10⁵ revertants/megajoule_thermal in TA98 +S9, which was greater than that of diesel exhaust and within an order of magnitude of open burning of wood and plastic. Thus, organics from PM_2.5 of burning oil can induce oxidative responses in human airway epithelial cells and are highly mutagenic. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:162–171, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microbial mutagenicity of isomeric two-, three-, and four-ring amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The isomers of various two-, three-, and four-ring amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were tested for mutagenic activity using a microbial plate incorporation test with four Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537). All compounds were assayed with an S9 metabolic activating enzyme system. The two-ring compounds were tested only with TA98. All were weakly mutagenic (1-10 rev/micrograms) except 2-aminobiphenyl, which was not mutagenic under these test conditions. All except two of the 13 fused three-ring compounds (aminofluorenes, aminoanthracenes, and aminophenanthrenes) were active frame shift mutagens; only the aminophenanthrenes were active base-pair mutagens. The potency of this group of isomeric compounds ranged from moderately (approximately 20 rev/microgram) to strongly (greater than 5,000 rev/microgram) mutagenic. As a group, the pericondensed four-ring amino compounds were the most mutagenic of the three groups tested. All of the aminofluoranthene and aminopyrene isomers showed significant mutagenic activity with TA98, TA100, and TA1537. In general, the mutagenic potency of the amino polycyclic aromatic compounds tested was highly dependent on the structural position of the amino group.     

Urinary mutagenesis and fried red meat intake: influence of cooking temperature, phenotype, and genotype of metabolizing enzymes in a controlled feeding study

Meat cooked at high temperatures contains potential carcinogenic compounds, such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Samples from a 2-week controlled feeding study were used to examine the relationship between the intake of mutagenicity from meat fried at different temperatures and the levels of mutagenicity subsequently detected in urine, as well as the influence of the genotype of drug metabolizing enzymes on urinary mutagenicity. Sixty subjects consumed ground beef patties fried at low temperature (100 degrees C) for 1 week, followed by ground beef patties fried at high temperature (250 degrees C) the second week. Mutagenicity in the meat was assayed in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 (+S9), and urinary mutagenicity was determined using Salmonella YG1024 (+S9). Genotypes for NAT1, NAT2, GSTM1, and UGT1A1 were analyzed using blood samples from the subjects. Meat fried at 100 degrees C was not mutagenic, whereas meat fried at 250 degrees C was mutagenic (1023 rev/g). Unhydrolyzed and hydrolyzed urine samples were 22x and 131x more mutagenic, respectively, when subjects consumed red meat fried at 250 degrees C compared with red meat fried at 100 degrees C. We found that hydrolyzed urine was approximately 8x more mutagenic than unhydrolyzed urine, likely due to the deconjugation of mutagens from glucuronide. The intake of meat cooked at high temperature correlated with the mutagenicity of unhydrolyzed urine (r = 0.32, P = 0.01) and hydrolyzed urine (r = 0.34, P = 0.008). Mutagenicity in unhydrolyzed urine was not influenced by NAT1, NAT2, or GSTM1 genotypes. However, a UGT1A1*28 polymorphism that reduced UGT1A1 expression and conjugation modified the effect of intake of meat cooked at high temperature on mutagenicity of unhydrolyzed urine (P for interaction = 0.04). These mutagenicity data were also compared with previously determined levels of HCAs (measured as MeIQx, DiMeIQx, and PhIP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the meat, levels of HCAs in the urine, and CYP1A2 and NAT2 phenotypes. The levels of mutagenicity in the meat fried at low and high temperatures correlated with levels of HCAs, but not levels of PAHs, in the meat. Also, levels of mutagenicity in unhydrolyzed urine correlated with levels of MeIQx in unhydrolyzed urine (r = 0.36; P = 0.01), and the levels of mutagenicity of hydrolyzed urine correlated with levels of MeIQx (r = 0.34; P = 0.01) and PhIP (r = 0.43; P = 0.001) of hydrolyzed urine. Mutagenicity in unhydrolyzed urine was not influenced by either the CYP1A2 or NAT2 phenotype. The data from this study indicate that urinary mutagenicity correlates with mutagenic exposure from cooked meat and can potentially be used as a marker in etiological studies on cancer.     

Comparative mutagenicity of a coal combustion fly ash extract in Salmonella typhimurium and Chinese hamster ovary cells

The dichloromethane extract of a coal combustion fly ash sample obtained from an experimental fluidized bed coal combustor was tested for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium and cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The extract was directly mutagenic in S typhimurium strain TA98 and the nitroreductase deficient strains TA98NR and TA98/1,8DNP6. The mutagenicity observed in TA98NR and TA98/1,8DNP6 was lower than that in TA98. Addition of exogenous Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver supernatant (liver S9) decreased the bacterial mutagenicity of the extract. A different mutagenic response was observed in CHO cells. In the absence of liver S9, although the extract was cytotoxic to CHO cells, no significant mutagenicity was observed. Addition of exogenous liver S9 decreased the cytotoxicity and increased the mutagenicity at both Na+-K+-ATPase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) gene loci in CHO cells. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and tandem quadruple mass spectrometry, a number of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrated PAHs (nitro-PAHs) were tentatively identified and quantitated. A possible explanation of the difference in bacterial and mammalian mutagenicity of the extract is that the bacterial mutagenicity was induced by the nitro-PAHs that are potent bacterial mutagens and mammalian mutagenicity was induced by both PAHs and nitro-PAHs that are promutagens.     

Mutagenic compounds in an extract from Rutae Herba (Ruta graveolens L.). I. Mutagenicity is partially caused by furoquinoline alkaloids

Mutagenicity testing of a commercial extract from Rutae Herba(Tinctura Rutae) revealed a strong effect in Salmonella typhimuriumstrain TA98 without S9 mix. In the presence of S9 mix only aweak response was observed. Moderate mutagenic effects weredetected with and without S9 mix using strain TA100. The extractused contained the furoquinoline alkaloids dictamnine, gamma-fagarine,skimmianine, pteleine and kokusaginine, as indicated by g.c.and g.c.—m.s. analysis. The pure compounds exhibited amutagenic activity only in the presence of S9 mix in strainTA98 as well as in strain TA100, but their specific mutagenicitydiffered greatly in strain TA98. We conclude that the extractstudied contains different mutagenic activities and that theseare only partially due to the furoquinolines present in theextract.     

Genotoxicity of airborne PM2.5 assessed by salmonella and comet assays in five cities of the Emilia‐Romagna (Italy) mutagenicity monitoring network

Airborne particulate matter (PM) has long been recognized as a potential health hazard and in 2013 was classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this study we evaluate and compare mutagenic and genotoxic potencies of PM_2.5 collected in three seasons, from 2012 to 2015, in five Italian cities. Mutagenicity was evaluated through the Ames test on TA98 and TA100 strains and, for the measurement of PM clastogenicity, Comet assay was carried out on cultured human lung cells (A549). Organic matter, extracted from urban particulate matter, was also characterized for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives content. Samples collected in the colder seasons show the presence of both base pair substitution and frameshift mutagens, with enhanced mutagenic response in the absence of enzyme activation. The highest DNA damage detected with the Comet assay was induced by winter extracts, but different from Salmonella, the relative increase per cubic meter in comet tail for November samples was comparable to July ones. Comparing mutagenicity and genotoxicity with chemical concentrations we found that data from the Salmonella assay correlate with mass concentration and, to a lesser extent, with PAHs, but no association was found with their derivatives, whereas DNA damage correlate only with PAHs measured at one site. These findings demonstrate that to assess the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of complex mixtures it's necessary to use bioassays and that the chemical analysis of pollutants does not take into account the possible inhibitory or synergic effects of exposure. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:719–729, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

In vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assessment of the dopamine receptor antagonist molindone hydrochloride

Molindone hydrochloride is a dihydroindolone neuroleptic with dopamine D₂ and D₅ receptor antagonist activity. As an integral component of its preclinical safety evaluation, molindone hydrochloride was evaluated in a series of in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology assays. In the bacterial reverse gene mutation assays employing four Salmonella tester strains (TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537) and the E. coli tester strain WP2uvrA, molindone hydrochloride was negative in all strains, except TA100, in which it induced a positive response (up to 3‐fold) in the presence of rat liver S9. With human S9, a small (2‐fold), but nonreproducible, increase in revertants was observed in TA100 at the highest concentration of molindone tested (5,000 µg/plate). The mutagenicity was completely abrogated by the addition of glutathione and UDP‐glucuronic acid to rat liver S9, suggesting detoxification of the mutagenic metabolite(s) by Phase II conjugation reactions, pathways commonly operational in humans. Molindone hydrochloride did not induce chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocyte cultures, did not elicit a positive response in a rat bone marrow micronucleus test for clastogencity/aneugenicity, and did not give a positive response in the rat liver comet assay for DNA damage. Collectively, the weight of evidence from these studies, combined with a large margin of safety and efficient detoxification through Phase II conjugation supports the interpretation that molindone hydrochloride does not pose a genotoxic risk to humans at the anticipated clinical dose levels. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:288–298, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Maximal lactate steady state concentration independent of pedal cadence in active individuals

The maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) is defined as the highest blood lactate concentration that can be maintained over time without a continual blood lactate accumulation. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of pedal cadence (50 vs. 100 rev min⁻¹) on MLSS and the exercise workload at MLSS (MLSS_workload) during cycling. Nine recreationally active males (20.9±2.9 years, 73.9±6.5 kg, 1.79±0.09 m) performed an incremental maximal load test (50 and 100 rev min⁻¹) to determine anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak workload (PW), and between two and four constant submaximal load tests (50 and 100 rev min⁻¹) on a mechanically braked cycle ergometer to determine MLSS_workload and MLSS. MLSS_workload was defined as the highest workload at which blood lactate concentration did not increase by more than 1 mM between minutes 10 and 30 of the constant workload. The maximal lactate steady state intensity (MLSS_intensity) was defined as the ratio between MLSS_workload and PW. MLSS_workload (186.1±21.2 W vs. 148.2±15.5 W) and MLSS_intensity (70.5±5.7% vs. 61.4±5.1%) were significantly higher during cycling at 50 rev min⁻¹ than at 100 rev min⁻¹, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in MLSS between 50 rev min⁻¹ (4.8±1.6 mM) and 100 rev min⁻¹ (4.7±0.8 mM). We conclude that MLSS_workload and MLSS_intensity are dependent on pedal cadence (50 vs. 100 rev min⁻¹) in recreationally active individuals. However, this study showed that MLSS is not influenced by the different pedal cadences analyzed.     

The role of glutathione in the bacterial mutagenicity of vapour phase dichloromethane.

Dichloromethane (DCM) vapour by inhalation is carcinogenic to rodents and is an in vivo rodent cell clastogen and a bacterial mutagen. It has been suggested that the bacterial mutagenicity of DCM is mediated by glutathione (GSH) conjugation. The involvement of endogenous and exogenous GSH in the conversion of DCM to a bacterial mutagen has been studied in a vapour phase protocol using wild-type and GSH-deficient (NG54; gsh) Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strains in the presence and absence of various rat liver fractions. The effect of the duration of exposure was also investigated in these Salmonella strains and in E. coli WP2 uvrA pKM101. Dose- and time-related increases in revertants occurred with all metabolic activation systems used (without exogenous metabolic activation; with Aroclor-induced rat liver S9, microsomes, or cytosol fractions), with minor quantitative differences among the 3 strains. Mutagenicity was marginally highest in the presence of cytosol at the highest DCM concentrations. Strain NG54 gsh, which contains approximately 25% of the TA100 level of GSH/microgram protein, was slightly less responsive to DCM-induced mutagenicity than TA100. Addition of 0.33 mumoles/plate of GSH had little effect on the mutagenic responses of TA100 or NG54 in the presence or absence of S9. In these 2 strains, exogenous S9 produced small increases in mutagenicity at the highest concentrations of DCM (2 and 4% v/v). These results suggest that if an interaction between DCM and GSH is required for the activation of DCM to a bacterial mutagen, it occurs at low levels of endogenous GSH and is not significantly affected by GSH supplementation.     

Bioassay‐directed fractionation and sub‐fractionation for mutagenicity and chemical analysis of diesel exhaust particles

Several types of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) have been used for toxicology studies, including a high‐organic automobile DEP (A‐DEP) from Japan, and a low‐organic forklift DEP developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (N‐DEP). However, these DEPs were not characterized extensively for chemical composition or sub‐fractionated and tested extensively for mutagenicity. We collected a compressor‐generated DEP (C‐DEP) and characterized it by conducting bioassay‐directed fractionation of the extractable organics in Salmonella and correlating the results by hierarchical clustering with the concentrations of 32 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Relative to A‐ and N‐DEP, the mutagenic potency of C‐DEP was intermediate in TA100 +S9 (PAH mutagenicity) but was lowest in TA98 –S9 (nitroarene mutagenicity). More than 50% of the mass of the extractable organics of C‐DEP eluted in the nonpolar Fraction 1, and only ～20% eluted in the moderately polar Fractions 2 and 3. However, most of the mutagenicity eluted in Fractions 2 and 3, similar to A‐DEP but different from N‐DEP. HPLC‐derived mutagrams of 62 sub‐fractions per fraction confirmed that most of the mutagenicity was due to moderately polar compounds. The diagnostic strains identified a strong role for PAHs, nitroarenes, aromatic amines, and oxy‐PAHs in the mutagenicity of C‐DEP. Hierarchical clustering confirmed the importance of oxy‐PAHs but not that of nitroarenes. To our knowledge this is the first use of hierarchical clustering to correlate chemical composition with the mutagenicity of a complex mixture. The chemical analysis and mutagenicity of C‐DEP described here makes C‐DEP suitable for additional toxicological studies. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 54:719–736, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effects of epoxide hydratase inhibitors in forward and reversion bacterial mutagenesis assay systems

Cyclohexene oxide (CCHO) and 1,1,1-trichloropropene-2,3-oxide (TCPO) are inhibitors of epoxide hydratase and have been used in studies of the mechanisms of mutagenesis in bacterial mutagenesis assays. The present studies were designed to investigate the mutagenic activity of CCHO and TCPO in Salmonella typhimurium employing the Ames histidine-reversion assays (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538) and a forward mutation assay that uses 8-azaguanine resistance in TM677 as the genetic marker. In the reverse mutation assay, TCPO (10⁻³ M) produced a mutagenic response in strains TA100 and TA1535 in the absence or presence of a rat liver metabolizing system (S9), indicating that TCPO causes base-pair substitution mutations. CCHO (10⁻³ M) showed a slight but significant mutagenic effect in strain TA100, with or without S9 and, in strain TA1535, only in the absence of S9. In the forward assay, TCPO was a strong mutagen at concentrations above 5 × 10⁻⁵ M and was toxic to the bacteria. The mutagenic and toxic effects of TCPO were slightly reduced in the presence of the S9 preparation, suggesting that the epoxide may be metabolized by the microsomal enzymes. In the forward assay, CCHO showed no mutagenic activity but some toxicity at 3 × 10⁻³ M. When epoxide hydratase activity was measured under the conditions of the forward mutation assay, 85% inhibition of activity was observed at 10⁻³ M TCPO, a concentration that caused a 45-fold increase in the mutation frequency. CCHO (3 × 10⁻³ M) produced a 55% inhibition of epoxide hydratase activity without exhibiting mutagenic effects in TM677. These results indicate that CCHO should be employed in preference to TCPO when inhibition of epoxide hydratase activity is required in bacterial mutagenesis studies.     

Mutagenicity of carbon tetrachloride and chloroform in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA/pKM101 and WP2/pKM101, using a gas exposure method

The volatile solvents carbon tetrachloride and chloroform are carcinogens that are often reported as nonmutagenic in bacterial mutagenicity assays. In this study, we evaluated the mutagenicity of these compounds in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA/pKM101 and WP2/pKM101, with and without S9 mix, using a gas exposure method. Tests were also conducted with a glutathione-supplemented S9 mix. Carbon tetrachloride was mutagenic in TA98 without S9 mix, and in WP2/pKM101 and WP2uvrA/pKM101 with and without S9 mix; carbon tetrachloride was not mutagenic in TA100, TA1535 or TA1537. Chloroform was mutagenic in WP2/pKM101, but only in the presence of glutathione-supplemented S9 mix. Chloroform was not mutagenic in TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, or WP2uvrA/pKM101 with or without S9 mix, and was not mutagenic in TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, or WP2uvrA/pKM101 in the presence of glutathione-supplemented S9 mix. The data indicate that carbon tetrachloride and chloroform are bacterial mutagens when adequate exposure conditions are employed and suggest that a genotoxic mode of action could contribute to the carcinogenicity of these compounds.     

Genotoxic activity in microorganisms of tetryl, 1,3-dinitrobenzene and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene

N-Methyl-N,2,4,6-tetranitroaniline (tetryl), 1,3-dinitrobenzene, and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene were subjected to DNA repair assays using the Escherichia coli W3110/polA⁺, p3478/polA^? system, reverse mutation assays with His^? Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98, and TA100, and mitotic recombinogenic tests with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae D5. Tests were carried out in the absence of an exogenous activation system and in tissue homogenate-mediated assays using Aroclor 1254-induced, male rat-liver-derived S9 mix. Mutagenic activity of tetryl was demonstrated with S typhimurium strains TA1537, TA1538, TA98, and TA100. The responses were particularly strong in the absence of S9 mix. Tetryl also induced increases in recombinant numbers and frequencies in the S cerevisiae test without the S9 mix, but not in its presence. 1,3-Dinitrobenzene was demonstrated to be a mutagen with S typhimurium strains TA1538, TA98, and TA100. Slight activity was also seen with TA1537. The S9 mix reduced the magnitude of the responses. 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene was also demonstrated to be mutagenic with S typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98, and TA100. Again, the S9 mix reduced the magnitude of the responses. In this segment of a programme initiated by military authorities, the genotoxic potential of three nitroaromatic compounds, which have found significant use in explosive preparations, has been demonstrated. Twelve other compounds used in ordnance were not active in any of the test systems. These were octahydro-1-acetyl-3,5,7-trinitro-S-tetramine (SEX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitro-5-acetyl-S-triamine (TAX), ethyl centralite, 2-nitrodiphenylamine, N-nitrosodiphenylamine, diphenylamine, diethyleneglycoldinitrate, nitroguanidine, lead salicylate, lead resorcylate, red phosphorus, and zinc chloride.     

Influence of mouse liver stored vitamin A on the induction of mutations (Ames tests) and SCE of bone marrow cells by aflatoxin B1, benzo(a)pyrene, or cyclophosphamide

Male mice (C57BL/6J) at 2 weeks of age were divided into two groups and maintained on a vitamin A-deficient or vitamin A-(retinyl acetate) supplemented diet. After 8 weeks, the average liver vitamin A concentration of mice fed on vitamin A-deficient or -supplemented diet was 36 +/- 7 micrograms/g vs 287 +/- 22 micrograms/g, respectively. Uninduced liver S9 fractions were prepared from both groups of mice and used to activate (with cofactors) the precarcinogens aflatoxin B1 (AFB), cyclophosphamide (CPP), dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), and benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay. S9 fraction prepared from both groups of mice failed to activate CPP to metabolites mutagenic in tester strains TA100 and TA1535 or to activate DMBA to metabolites mutagenic in TA100, but effectively activated AFB and BP to metabolites mutagenic in TA98. Comparison of activation activities of S9 prepared from liver of mice fed a high or low level of vitamin A was made with T98 treated with AFB or BP using three doses of S9 (50, 100, and 200 microliters/plate). S9 fractions from mice with a high liver vitamin A level were consistently less potent than S9 fractions from mice with a low liver vitamin A level in activating AFB to its mutagenic metabolites. This effect was not observed in BP-treated plates. Administration of AFB to groups of mice with a high liver vitamin A level induced significantly less SCE in bone marrow cells than did administration of AFB to mice with a low liver vitamin A level. This differential sensitivity was not observed when the two groups of mice were treated with either BP or CPP. The possible relationship between vitamin A levels in vivo and mutagenesis or carcinogenesis are discussed briefly.     

Mutagenic potential of Indian tobacco products

The mutagenic potential of aqueous extracts of masheri (ME),chewing tobacco alone (CTE) and a mixture of chewing tobaccoplus lime (CTLE) was tested using the Ames assay. ME exhibitedmutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 upon metabolic activationwith aroclor-1254-induced rat liver S9, while nitrosation renderedit mutagenic in TA100 and TA102. CTE exhibited borderline mutagenicityin the absence or presence of S9 in TA98 and TA100 and afternitrosation in TA102, while nitrosation led to doubling of TA98and TA100 revertants. In contrast, CTLE exhibited direct mutagenicityin TA98, TA100 and TA102, was mutagenic to TA98 upon S9 additionand induced mutagenic responses in all three tester strainsafter nitrosation. Experiments using scavengers of reactiveoxygen species (ROS) suggested that CTLE-induced oxidat-ivedamage in TA102 was mediated by a variety of ROS. The high mutagenicpotency of CTLE vis à vis that of CTE may be attributedto changes in the pH leading to differences in the amount andnature of compounds extracted from tobacco. Thus, exposure toa wide spectrum of tobacco-derived mutagcns and promutagensmay play a critical role in the development of oral cancer amongusers of tobacco plus lime. ¹To whom correspondence should be addressed     

Evaluation of the mutagenicity of azo dyes in Salmonella typhimurium: a study of structure-activity relationships

In order to explore structure-activity relationships, 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene and four structurally related azo dyes were tested for their ability to induce gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA100, TA1537, TA1538, and TA98. Only 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene and 4,4'-N(beta-hydroxyethylamino)azobenzene were found to be active in the two frameshift strains TA1538 and TA98. Further tests were performed in strain TA98, both in the presence and in the absence of Aroclor 1254-induced rat or hamster liver S9 preparations. The amount of S9 used per plate was 50, 100, 150 or 300 microliters, which corresponds to 10, 20, 30 or 60% of S9 in S9 mix. 4,4'-Diaminoazobenzene was found to be mutagenic, and its mutagenicity depended on the percentage of S9 in S9 mix and the type of S9 fraction used. 4,4'-N-(beta-Hydroxyethylamino)azobenzene was less mutagenic than 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene, indicating a reduction in mutagenicity associated with the beta-hydroxyalkyl substituents. The other three azo dyes [4'-methyl-4-N,N-di(beta-hydroxyethylamino) azobenzene; 4'-amino-6-methyl-4-N,N-di(beta-hydroxyethylamino)azobenzene; and 4'-N(beta-hydroxyethyl-amino)4-N,N-di(beta-hydroxyethylamino)azobe nzene] were inactive, both in the presence and in the absence of the metabolic activation system. The use of the preincubation test did not alter the observed positive or negative response of these compounds. The importance of this finding is that the non-mutagenicity or decreased mutagenicity of these four compounds is predictable on the basis of their chemical structures. These azo dyes, like the non-mutagenic members of series of monocyclic aromatic amines, contain large substituents on one or both of the amino groups of the parent compound, in this case 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene. From our earlier data and the experiments discussed in this paper, we conclude that the study of structure--activity relationships can provide useful information for the prediction and interpretation of mutagenic responses.