Effect of the co‐carcinogen benzo[e] pyrene on microsome‐mediated chemical mutagenesis in salmonella typhimurium

Abstract

Chemical agents that possess the ability to alter tumorigenicity of carcinogens (administered at subthreshold dose) constitute a major health hazard. We have employed the Ames Salmonella assay to examine the effect of co‐carcinogenic benzo[e] pyrene (B[e]P) on microsome‐mediated chemical mutagenesis. B[e]P enhanced the mutagenic activity induced by 2‐acetylaminofluorene (2‐AAF) and benzo[a] pyrene (B[a]P) in strains TA1538 and TA98. Enhancement was also noted with N‐hydroxy‐2‐AAF (the proximal metabolite of 2‐AAF) but not with an ultimate carcinogenic form (N‐acetoxy‐2‐AAF). These results suggest the use of this approach to detect chemical agents that possess the ability to alter the activity of mutagenic or carcinogenic chemicals.