The mutagenic activity of ethylmethanesulphonate, benzidine and benzo[a]pyrene at the hprt locus of wild-type L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells.

Ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS), benzidine (BZD) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were assayed for ability to induce mutation at the hprt locus of wild-type L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. EMS was assayed in the absence of metabolic activation, B[a]P in the presence of metabolic activation (S-9 mix) and BZD both in the absence and presence of S-9. Treatment with EMS minus S-9 and B[a]P plus S-9, especially when the S-9 content of the incubation was 2% (v/v), produced strong dose-related increases in mutant frequency. BZD failed to induce mutation at the hprt locus, either in the absence or presence of S-9.