Evaluation of DNA damage by alkaline elution technique after inhalation exposure of rats and mice to 1,3-butadiene.

The alkaline filter elution technique was used to evaluate single strand breaks (SSB), DNA-DNA (DDCL) and DNA-protein cross-links (DPCL) in liver and lung of male rats (Sprague-Dawley) and male mice (B6C3F1) after exposure to 2000 ppm 1,3-butadiene (BD) for 7 days (7 h/day and/or to 100, 250, 500, 1000) 2000 ppm BD for 7 h. SSB were detected in liver DNA of both species at 2000 ppm. Cross-links are more pronounced in mouse lung than in mouse liver. Elution rates of lung DNA from mice exposed for 7 h to different concentrations of BD revealed an increase in cross-links between 250 and 500 ppm, and a further increase in cross-links up to 2000 ppm. No such signs of genotoxicity could be observed for the lung of rats. Our data support the involvement of reactive metabolites (epoxybutene and especially diepoxybutane) in butadiene-induced carcinogenesis in the mouse but not to that extent in the rat.