Mutagenic effects of AF-2, a food additive, on embryonic cells of the Syrian golden hamster on transplacental application.

Hamster embryos were treated with AF-2 in vivo (in the mother) by transplacental application. Their cells were then isolated, cultured in normal medium for 48 h, and then selected in media containing various concentrations of 8AG or 6TG. This treatment with AF-2 caused marked dose-dependent induction of 8AG- or 6TG-resistant mutants. Direct administration of AF-2 and MNNG to embryonic hamster cells also produced 8AG- and 6TG-resistant colonies. This new method is concluded to be very useful for detection of environmental mutagens and carcinogens when combined with the in vivo-in vitro combination assay of chemical carcinogenesis (transformation test).