This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Elespuru, R. K. Articles by Lijinsky, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Elespuru, R. K. Articles by Lijinsky, W.

Mutagenicity of Cyclic Nitrosamines in Escherichia coli following Activation with Rat Liver Microsomes

Institute for Toxicology and Chemotherapy (Director: Prof. Dr. Med. D. Schmähl), German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), Heidelberg, Germany

Ten cyclic nitrosamines were tested for mutagenicity in Escherichia coli after incubation in vitro with 9000 x g microsomal supernatants prepared from rat liver, and the results were compared with carcinogenicity data from the same species. None of the compounds was mutagenic in the absence of microsomes. Seven carcinogenic compounds, nitrosopyrrolidine, nitrosopiperidine, nitrosohexamethyleneimine, nitrosoheptamethyleneimine, nitrosomorpholine, dinitrosopiperazine, and dinitrosohomopiperazine, were mutagenic after microsomal activation. One compound, nitrosoheptamethyleneimine, was toxic to the bacteria. Two noncarcinogens, 1-nitrosopiperazine and 1-methyl-4-nitrosopiperazine, and 1 strong carcinogen, 2,6-dimethyldinitrosopiperazine, were not mutagenic with or without microsomal incubation. The liver microsome preparation activated equally well those compounds that are liver carcinogens in Sprague-Dawley rats, and compounds for which the liver is not a target organ.

¹ Present address: Basic Research Program, Frederick Cancer Research Center, Frederick, Md. 21701.

² Present address: Chemical Carcinogenesis Program, Frederick Cancer Research Center, Frederick, Md. 21701.

Received 1/26/76. Accepted 8/11/76.