Liver homogenate-mediated mutagenesis in chinese hamster V79 cells by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aflatoxins.

Several chemical carcinogens that require metabolic activation have been examined for their cytotoxic and mutagenic activity in Chinese hamster V79 cells. Mutagenic activity was measured as the induced frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant colonies. Metabolic activation was provided by the 9000 g supernatant fraction of rat liver plus cofactors. The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 and B2, benzo(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, dibenz(a,h)-anthracene, dibenz(a,c)anthracene, and benz(a)anthracene were examined as functions of concentration. Except for the two isomers of dibenzanthracene, the mutagenic activity in general paralleled the carcinogenic activity. An assay of this type may be useful as a prescreen for environmental chemicals that require metabolic activation.