Detection of Mutagenicity of the Colon Carcinogen 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine by the Host-Mediated Assay and Its Correlation to Carcinogenicity

Abstract
Mutagenic potential of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) was investigated in the host-mediated assay with mice used as hosts. This assay revealed potent mutagenicity of this colon carcinogen for Salmonella typhlmurium G46. The mutagenicity of DMH was inhibited by pretreatment of mice with disulfiram. In addition, mouse strain and sex differences influenced the mutation induction by DMH: Mutation induction was significantly lower in C57BL/6 mice than in outbred ICR mice of either sex and was generally higher in male mice than in females of either C57BL/6 or ICR mice.