[Study of the process of promutagen biotransformation by the Ames test. I. The role of conjugation with glutathione in the modification of the mutagenic activity of nitrosomorpholine, diethylnitrosamine and cyclophosphamide].

It is demonstrated that the level of the action of nitrosomorpholine (NM), diethyl nitrosoamine (DENA) and cyclophosphane (CP) promutagens on bacteria is lowered as a result of the Ames test modification by means of addition of reduced glutathione (G-SH) to the activating mixture. The data are presented on the dependence of this phenomenon on concentration of promutagens and G-SH, the period of bacteria preincubation with the compound under study and the activating mixture as well as on concentration of microsomal protein. No changes in the mutagenic effect of NM, DENA and CP were observed when G-SH was substituted for cysteine in equimolar concentration. This fact points to enzymic mechanism involved in elimination of the damaging effect of mutagenic metabolites of the compounds studied.