Chromosomal aberrations induced in vitro by 3,7- and 3,9-dinitrofluoranthene

The chromosomal aberration test using a Chinese hamster cell line (CHL) was carried out with 3,7- and 3,9-dinitrofluoranthene (DNF) with and without exogenous metabolic activation (rat liver S9 mix). The highest dose tested was limited to 20 micrograms/ml because of the compounds' insolubility in dimethyl sulfoxide. Both DNFs induced chromosomal aberrations in the absence of S9 mix; the frequency was not very high. Results were reproducible, but without clear dose-response relationships. Neither DNF induced chromosomal aberrations in the presence of S9 mix. Both DNFs did not induce polyploid cells under any conditions.

Prediction of human pharmacokinetics of panipenem-betamipron, a new carbapenem, from animal data

The pharmacokinetic behavior of panipenem (PAPM)-betamipron (BP), a new carbapenem, in humans was successfully predicted from data collected from six animal species. PAPM and BP were biphasically eliminated from plasma after intravenous (i.v.) administration of PAPM-BP to mice, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, monkeys, and dogs. Elimination rates of PAPM and BP were correlated with animal size: the larger the animal was, the slower the elimination was. As for PAPM and BP, log-log plots of total plasma clearance (CLtot) versus body weight and log-log plots of distribution volume at steady state (VSS) versus body weight for six animal species were linear, with high correlation coefficients. These allometric equations were extrapolated to predict CLtot and VSS for PAPM and BP in humans. In addition, concentration in plasma-time profiles for humans were predicted by using two-exponent equations fitted to the complex Dedrick plot of animal data. Predicted values for CLtot and VSS for PAPM and BP in humans agreed well with observed values in humans given 750/750 mg of PAPM-BP as an i.v. drip infusion for 30 min. Predicted concentration in plasma-time profiles for humans approximated observed profiles. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of PAPM-BP extrapolated well from animal species to humans when allometric equations and the complex Dedrick plot were used.

Mutagenicity of nitro-azabenzo[a]pyrene and its related compounds

The mutagenicity of nitrated benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and the related compounds, 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (NBP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-cyanobenzo[a]pyrene (N-6-CBP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-azabenzo[a]-pyrene (N-6-ABP), 1- and 3-nitro-6-azabenzo[a]-pyrene-N-oxide (N-6-ABPO) and 1,6- and 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]-pyrene (DNBP), was investigated. The mutagenic activities of 3-N-6-CBP and 3-N-6-ABP were 117 and 76 times, respectively, that of 3-NBP. In addition, 3,6-DNBP was more mutagenic than 1,6-DNBP. It is suggested that the mutagenic activation differs with the position of NO2 substitution in the chemical structure. A nitro derivative with NO2 substitution at the 3 position of the aromatic ring of BP was more mutagenic than that with the substitution at the 1 or 6 position. The reducibility of DNBPs was then determined by detecting 1- or 3-amino-6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (A-6-NBP), a metabolite of DNBP; 3,6- and 1,6-DNBP were reduced to 3- and 1-A-6-NBP at frequencies of 958 +/- 26 and 79 +/- 8, respectively, pmole per mg of protein, when the compound was incubated anaerobically with rat liver S9 mix at 37 degrees C for 15 min. NO2 substituted at the 3 position of the aromatic ring of BP was readily reduced by a microsome enzyme to form an amino derivative. The result suggests that these compounds have a structure-activity relationship between mutagenicity and NO2 substitution of BP.

Collaborative study using the preincubation Salmonella typhimurium mutation assay for airborne particulate matter in Japan. A trial to minimize interlaboratory variation

A collaborative study has been performed over a period of 3 years to develop a suitable method for monitoring the mutagenicity of airborne particulate matter. The study was organized with 8 laboratories and performed in the following steps: (1) selection of a suitable technique for each process involved in the mutagenicity monitoring, (2) developing a tentative protocol by combining systematically the selected techniques, (3) evaluation of the protocol by intra- and inter-laboratory studies, (4) modification of the protocol according to the evaluation, and (5) evaluation of the modified protocol by conducting an interlaboratory study. We found a suitable method for mutagenicity monitoring of particles in the atmosphere. Airborne particles were sampled with a high-volume sampler, the samples were stored at -80 degrees C, extracted by sonication using dichloromethane, solvent-exchanged, and assayed by the preincubation method using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. The observed mutagenic activity was normalized with that of an internal standard. Round robin tests revealed that the method resulted in excellent reproducibility. The coefficient of variation for mutagenic activities of airborne particulate samples collected in various districts of Japan were in the range of 14.7 +/- 6.6% to 19.6 +/- 4.0% for strains TA98 and TA100 with and without metabolic activation. We also found that the plate incorporation method was equivalent to the preincubation method for airborne particulate extracts.

Influence of the microsomal inducer and the incubation system on mutagenicity of complex mixtures

The mutagenicity of SRM 1649 and 1650 was tested in the presence of rat liver S9 mix which was induced by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) or by the combination of phenobarbital and 5,6-benzoflavone. The S9 mix induced by PCB activated benzo[a]pyrene strongly. The S9 mix induced by phenobarbital-5,6-benzoflavone activated the complex mixtures to approximately the same extent as that induced by PCB. This finding indicates that phenobarbital-5,6-benzoflavone instead of PCB may be suitable as an inducer under some conditions. The preincubation procedure for the mutagenicity test was performed by preincubating the test compound, S9 mix and bacteria for 20 min in a water bath. This procedure was as effective as the plate incorporation test.

Pulmonary carcinogenicity of 3,9- and 3,7-dinitrofluoranthene, 3-nitrofluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene in F344 rats

3,9- and 3,7-Dinitrofluoranthene (3,9- and 3,7-DNF), 3-nitrofluoranthene (3-NF) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were tested for pulmonary carcinogenicity by intrapulmonary implantation of the compounds into rat lung. These chemicals were given in various doses as suspensions in beeswax-trycaprylin and the animals were observed for 100 weeks. The control group received no drugs. The incidences of lung tumors were 19/21 (90.5%), 7/10 (70%) and 1/10 (10%) in rats treated with 200, 100 and 50 micrograms of 3,9-DNF, 4/9 (44.4%), 3/10 (30%) and 0/10 (0%) in rats treated with 200, 100 and 50 micrograms of B[a]P, 12/22 (54.5%) in rats treated with 200 micrograms of 3,7-DNF and 1/20 (5%) in rats treated with 1000 micrograms of 3-NF respectively. No lung tumors were found in control rats. The incidence of lung tumors induced by 3,9-DNF was twice as high as that induced by B[a]P, when the equivalent dose levels of the two compounds were compared. Histologically, most of the tumors induced by 3,9- and 3,7-DNF and B[a]P were squamous cell carcinomas.

Detection of 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]pyrene in airborne particulates

3,6-Dinitrobenzo[a]pyrene, a new mutagen, was detected in airborne particulates collected in Santiago (Chile). The quantity of the compound in the airborne particulates was very small, accounting for 0.01 micrograms/g of total particulates (0.002 ng/m3 of air) at the lowest concentration. It was found that 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]pyrene is readily decomposed by UV irradiation at 312 nm. The decomposed product was identified as 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene-6-quinone by means of mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The mutagenicity of 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]pyrene was 137,000 revertants/nmole for Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98, less than that for strain TA98/1,8-DNP6, an acetyltransferase-deficient mutant, and more than that for strain YG1024, an acetyltransferase-rich mutant.

[Concentration profile of PCBs in the digestive tract of rat fed with cholestyramine and rice bran fiber diet]

The aim of this study is to examine the inhibitory effect of rice bran fiber (RBF) and cholestyramine for intestinal absorption of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Sixteen rats were orally given at the dose of 100 mg of PCBs per kg of the animal, and were divided into four groups (A-D): Rats in each group were housed with the normal diet for the first 7 days, and subsequently, were given with the same diet as control for group A, with the diet containing 10% RBF for group B, with the diet containing 5% cholestyramine for group C and with the combined diet containing 10% RBF and 5% cholestyramine for group D for the next 10 days. All rats were sacrificed on the 17th day after PCBs administration, and PCBs in contents of the digestive tracts were determined: small and large intestine resected was divided into two parts each of the same length, and the contents were chemically analyzed to determine PCBs. PCBs concentration in rats of group A decreased in order of upper portions (1.0 microgram/g) and then lower (0.6 microgram/g) of small intestine, and upper (0.5 microgram/g) and then lower (0.4 microgram/g) of large intestine. Decreasing the PCBs concentration might be due to re-absorption in the intestine. In the case of groups B-D, PCBs concentration was in order of upper and then lower of small intestine, and large intestine. It was indicated that PCBs re-absorption in intestine is inhibited by the intake of RBF, cholestyramine, and RBF and cholestyramine.

[Therapeutic trial for promotion of fecal excretion of PCDFs and PCBs by the administration of cholestyramine in Yusho patients]

Any effective therapy for elimination of causal agents remaining in Yusho patients was not found until now. To know the profile of fecal excretion of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the amounts of PCDFs and PCBs in the stool of six Yusho patients with the typical symptoms were determined. The stool samples of Yusho patients were collected in 1989. PCDFs, i.e., 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PnCDF), 1,2,3,4,7,8- and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofurans (HxCDFs), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran (HpCDF) and octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) were detected in all of the samples. PCDFs found in the stool samples were mostly PnCDF and HxCDFs. Of PCDFs detected, PnCDF and HxCDFs contributed to 42 +/- 4.7% and 43 +/- 5.5% as mean +/- SE, respectively. The fecal excretion of PnCDF and HxCDFs in Yusho patients was 720 +/- 490 pg/day and 790 +/- 620 pg/day as mean +/- SE, respectively. On the other hand, the fecal excretion of PnCDF and HxCDFs in normal controls was 32 +/- 13 pg/day and 47 +/- 5.2 pg/day as mean +/- SE, respectively. The fecal excretion of PnCDF and HxCDFs in Yusho patients was about 23 times and 17 times each higher than that in normal controls. The fecal excretion of PCBs in Yusho patients and normal controls was 400 +/- 430 ng/day and 150 +/- 39 ng/day, respectively, as mean +/- SE. In order to promote the excretion of these toxic chemicals in the stool of Yusho patients, the patients were continuously administered with cholestyramine, an anion exchange resin, at a dose of 4 g, 3 times a day, for 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of rice bran fibre and cholestyramine on the faecal excretion of Kanechlor 600 (PCB) in rats

1. As rice bran fibre binds Kanechlor 600 (PCB), the present study was conducted to determine whether the fibre stimulates rat faecal excretion of PCB in vivo. 2. In rats fed diets containing rice bran fibre, lignin and cholestyramine, the faecal excretion of PCB was increased. Total PCB excreted in rat faeces for groups fed diets of 10% (w/w) rice bran fibre, 10% fibre plus 5% lignin, 5% cholestyramine and 10% fibre plus 5% cholestyramine were 3.4, 3.7, 2.2 and 5.4 times as much, respectively, as that of control rats. The greatest effect on the faecal excretion of PCB was thus obtained with rice bran fibre plus cholestyramine. 3. In rats fed these diets, PCB concentration of the small intestine was significantly decreased to 25-50% of that of controls. PCB of spleen in rats fed diets of 10% fibre, 10% fibre plus 5% lignin and 10% fibre plus 5% cholestyramine also decreased to 50% of that of controls. However, PCB of other tissues were not affected.

Induction of nitroarenes in cigarette smoke condensate treated with nitrate

Samples of cigarette smoke condensates (CSCs) treated with nitric acid or Chinese cabbage pickles having a high nitrate content strongly mutated Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98; the benzene/ethanol extract after these treatments induced 1800 and 820 revertants, respectively, per mg of extract for strain TA98 in the absence of S9 mix. The major mutagens in these materials were found to be 1-nitropyrene and 1,3-dinitropyrene on the basis of the result of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and of fluorescence spectra of the samples. The quantity of 1-nitropyrene was 14.5 ng per cigarette for the CSCs treated with nitric acid, and for 11.2 ng for those treated with Chinese cabbage pickles. Similarly, 1,3-dinitropyrene was detected in the CSCs treated with nitric acid or Chinese cabbage pickles at concentrations of 0.38 and approximately 0.1 ng, respectively, per cigarette.

Identification of mutagens in Japanese pickles

A total of 108 samples of pickles, which were produced in districts with high and low incidences of stomach cancer in Japan, were extracted with methanol-chloroform. The extracts were bioassayed with Salmonella tester strains. The pickles produced in the high-cancer-incidence district were more mutagenic than those produced in the low-incidence district. The most mutagenic sample among 24 pickle specimens collected in the high-incidence district induced 130 revertants/mg of the crude extract for strain TA98. The mutagenic compounds were purified, and 2 flavonols, quercetin and rhamnetin, were identified as the major mutagens in the pickles by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The quantities of the 2 compounds were determined as 6.60 mg for quercetin, and 1.96 mg for rhamnetin per gram of the crude extract. The mutagenic activities of the pickles produced in the 2 districts were closely related to the amounts of quercetin in them.

Induction of subcutaneous tumors in rats by 3,7- and 3,9-dinitrofluoranthene

Two dinitrofluoranthenes (DNFs) derived from 3-nitrofluoranthene were purified to over 99%, and tested for tumorigenicity in F344/DuCrj male rats. Rats were inoculated s.c. with 0.05 mg 3,7- or 3,9-DNF twice a week for 10 weeks. All 21 rats given 3,7-DNF and 10 of 11 rats (91%) given 3,9-DNF developed tumors at the injection site by 48 weeks after the first injection. Twenty of the 21 tumors induced by 3,7-DNF and seven of the 10 tumors induced by 3,9-DNF were classified as malignant fibrous histiocytoma, but one tumor in the 3,7-DNF-treated group and three tumors induced by 3,9-DNF showed typical features of rhabdomyosarcoma. The first tumors in 3,9-DNF-treated rats appeared on day 88 (on day average 117), 10 weeks earlier than in 3,7-DNF-treated ones (on day average 186).

The nature of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of nitrated, aromatic compounds in the environment

Gaseous substances such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) stimulate the process of nitration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the transformation products display a broad spectrum of mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Bacterial mutation by nitroarenes is specific. Tetracyclic nitroarenes are thought to be the most mutagenic compounds in the Salmonella test system, and some are carcinogenic in rats and mice. Furthermore, it was found that the mutational nitroarenes produced mostly DNA damage, which is subject to recombination repair in the rec assay system using Bacillus subtilis. Nitroarenes in the environment seem to be ubiquitous; the majority of the compounds are emitted directly from diesel emissions, kerosene heaters, and gas and liquefied-gas burners or heaters. In nitroarenes induced during incomplete combustion, nitropyrene and nitrofluoranthene derivatives are the most important mutagens/carcinogens for determining the chronic toxicity of nitroarenes overall.

A food-poisoning incident caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin A in Japan

Food poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin A occurred in Japan. Eleven (31%) of 36 patients from 14 different areas died of botulism. Most of the patients had eaten commercial fried lotus-rhizome solid mustard without heating. The food, which implicated one of the special local products used for gifts in Kumamoto, was found to have been produced by a manufacturer in Kumamoto prefecture. In Fukuoka prefecture, two of three patients died on days 4 and 8 after eating the food; they had typical symptoms of botulism. A total of 42 packages of the food bought as gifts was collected from different districts in Fukuoka prefecture for examination for both organism and toxin. Thirteen of these (31%) were contaminated with the organism, and in 11 (26%) a small amount of toxin A had been produced.

Tumorigenicity test of 1,3- and 1,8-dinitropyrene in BALB/c mice

1,3-Dinitropyrene (DNP) and 1,8-DNP (CAS: 42397-65-9) are very potent mutagens and induce a frameshift-type mutation in the Salmonella test system. Each compound was tested for tumorigenicity in BALB/c mice by sc inoculation of 0.05 mg of the compound once a week for 20 weeks. Tumors developed at the site of injection of 1,8-DNP in 6 of 15 mice up to 60 weeks after the first injection. The incidence of tumors was statistically significant at a P-value of less than .05 but not of less than .01. Therefore, the carcinogenicity of 1,8-DNP in BALB/c mice was concluded to be weaker than that of benzo[a]pyrene [(BP) CAS: 50-32-8], which induced a 100% tumor incidence when it was injected at the same dose as that of 1,8-DNP. No tumors occurred at the injection site in mice given 1,3-DNP. Most of the tumors induced by 1,8-DNP and BP showed histologic features characteristic of malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Dinitrofluoranthene: induction, identification and gene mutation

By renitrating 3-nitrofluoranthene in the presence of fuming nitric acid, some additional nitro-derivatives were induced; they were identified as 3,7-, 3,9- and 3,4-dinitrofluoranthene (DNF), and two trinitrofluoranthenes (TNF, 3,4,7- and 3,4,8- or 3,4,9-isomers) on the basis of the results of mass spectrometry and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance. The yield of 3,7- and 3,9-DNF was about 61.3% in all of the derivatives induced. All of the DNFs yielded positive results in the rec-assay system, inducing DNA-damaging activity in Bacillus subtilis. Both 3,7- and 3,9-DNF converted Salmonella typhimurium His- strains TA98, TA97 and TA1538 from autotrophy to prototrophy, indicating a frameshift-type mutation for both; for strain TA98, 3,7-, 3,9- and 3,4-DNF gave mutagenicity of 422, 355 and 15.5 His+ revertants, respectively, per nanogram, corresponding to the specific activity of 1,6-dinitropyrene (DNP), a powerful mutagen. These DNFs are known to be potential mutagens which are eluted at adjacent retention times with 1,3-, 1,6- and 1,8-DNP on a column for high-performance liquid chromatography.

Antipyretic activity of a human immunoglobulin preparation for intravenous use in an experimental model of fever in rabbits

In an effort to elucidate the reason that fever in patients with severe bacterial infections subsided in some cases after the administration of human immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use (IGIVs), we focused our attention on the antipyretic activity of IGIVs by investigating experimentally produced pyrexia in rabbits with Escherichia coli-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although little difference in antibody titers against the antigens composing molecules of LPS was found among the IGIVs that were used, IGIVs treated at pH 4 were demonstrated to inhibit a strongly LPS-induced second-phase febrile response, whereas the inhibitory effect of sulfonated and pepsin-treated IGIVs was weak. In vitro experiments on interleukin-1 production by rabbit macrophages stimulated with LPS, silica gel or latex beads and on rosette formation showed that these functions of the cells were also inhibited by IGIVs. The in vivo antipyretic activity and the results of the two in vitro experiments correlated closely. The inhibitory potency decreased in the following order: immunoglobulin G (IgG) treated at pH4, sulfonated IgG, and pepsin-treated IgG. Thus, it is possible that the subsidence of LPS-induced fever by IGIVs was mediated by inhibition of interleukin 1 production by means of binding of IgG to macrophages via an Fc receptor. Results of this study also indicated the importance of the structural integrity of the Fc portion of the IgG contained in the IGIVs to bind with its receptor on the macrophage so as to influence the various functions carried out by the cell.

Results of the rec-assay of nitropyrenes in the Bacillus subtilis test system

The rec-assay of the nitropyrenes in Bacillus subtilis was performed. All nitropyrene derivatives were positive in this system. Especially, 3 isomers of 1,3-, 1,6- and 1,8-dinitropyrene and 4-nitropyrene were found to possess strong DNA-damaging capacities at extremely low concentrations.

Adjuvant activity of diesel-exhaust particulates for the production of IgE antibody in mice

The prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis caused by pollen has strikingly increased in Japan in the last three decades. The number of diesel cars in use has also rapidly increased in the country. This fact urged us to study the effects of particulates emitted from diesel cars on the production of IgE antibody. The primary IgE antibody responses in mice immunized with intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OA) mixed with diesel-exhaust particulates (DEP) were higher than those in the animals immunized with OA alone. This effect of DEP on the production of IgE antibody in mice was also demonstrated when mice were immunized with repeated injections of dinitrophenylated-OA. In addition, persistent IgE-antibody response to major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen (JCPA), a most common pollen causing allergic rhinitis in Japan, was observed in mice immunized with JCPA mixed with DEP but not in the animals immunized with JCPA alone. The results do indicate that the adjuvant activity of DEP can not be excluded as a possible cause of the associated change in the number of diesel cars and allergic rhinitis caused by pollen in Japan.

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of nitroarenes and their sources in the environment

Nitroarenes are postulated to play a principal part among mutagens/carcinogens which are induced in the combustion process and, in addition, are widely distributed in the environment. This review deals with the following points concerning nitroarene toxicity. Data on the mutagenicity of nitroarenes obtained by short-term bioassays are expected to provide us with sufficient information for us to determine their genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, mutagenicity detected with Salmonella, Escherichia, and yeast test systems is discussed. Genotoxicity in mammalian cells is also important for determining the mutagenic properties of nitroarenes. In this article, mutagenicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells, sister chromatid exchanges, and cell transformation is summarized. The metabolism of nitroarenes in vivo and in vitro is of importance for determining their behavior and active forms. Therefore, current studies regarding metabolism of nitroarenes are described. Carcinogenicity of nitroarenes for animals has been reported by many workers. In this review, the incidence and histological features of tumors induced by nitroarenes are described. Furthermore, the possible association between human lung cancer and nitroarenes is discussed. Sources of nitroarenes in the environment are given. The results of various chemical tests for identifying nitroarenes are summarized, and speculation on the risk of nitroarenes for humans is presented.

Mutagenic/carcinogenic agents in indoor pollutants; the dinitropyrenes generated by kerosene heaters and fuel gas and liquefied petroleum gas burners

Incomplete combustion of kerosene heater, and fuel gas and liquefied petroleum gas-burner emissions produces indoor pollutants that may be carcinogenic. The incomplete-combustion products from each type of appliance were therefore collected by adsorption on about 3 g of XAD-2 resin, and were extracted with benzene-methanol as a solvent for determination and identification of mutagens in the Salmonella-microsome test system. Benzene-methanol extracts of the particulates generated by a heater and two burners showed extreme mutagenicity for strains TA97 and TA98 without S9 mix. Based on the results of analysis, a combination of high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) and gas chromatography (GC), about 40-80% of the direct-acting mutagenicity in each crude extract showed the same h.p.l.c. and GC retention times as dinitropyrenes (1,3-, 1,6- and 1,8-isomers), and 1-nitropyrene. Moreover, other nitroarenes, 2-nitrofluorene, 1,5- and 1,8-dinitronaphthalene, and 4,4'-dinitrobiphenyl, were detectable in almost all samples, but their contribution to the mutagenicity of each extract was very low. Kerosene heaters were found to generate small amounts (0.2 ng/h) of dinitropyrenes, which are potential mutagens/carcinogens, only after 1 h of operation.

1,6-Dinitropyrene: mutagenicity in Salmonella and carcinogenicity in BALB/c mice

In tests on the carcinogenicity of 1,6-dinitropyrene [(1,6-DNP) CAS: 42397-64-8] and 1-nitropyrene [(1-NP) CAS: 5522-43-0], 0.1 mg of each compound was inoculated sc into BALB/c mice once a week for 20 weeks. In the group given injections of 1,6-DNP the first tumor appeared on day 112, and 10 of the 20 mice developed tumors at the injection site by 45 weeks after the first injection. However, no tumors were induced in any of the mice that received injections of 1-NP. All of the induced tumors were transplantable for more than five generations in male BALB/c mice. Most of the tumors showed the characteristic histologic features of malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Identification of dinitropyrenes in diesel-exhaust particles. Their probable presence as the major mutagens

The direct-acting mutagens in diesel particulate extracts were identified. It is concluded that the major mutagens are in all probability 1,6- and 1,8-dinitropyrene (DNP). 1-Nitropyrene (NP) and 3-nitrofluoranthene (NF) were also present. The DNP isomers contributed 43% of the total mutagenic activity of the crude extracts, whereas 1-NP (or 3-NF) was responsible for less than 10% of the activity. The quantities of 1,6- and 1,8-DNP were 1.2 and 3.4 ppm of the crude extracts, respectively, and the induction of both DNPs in the diesel particulate matter corresponded to about 1.7-4.8% by weight of the 1-NP content (70.5 ppm in the crude extracts).

Demonstration of a powerful mutagenic dinitropyrene in airborne particulate matter

Of the many nitroarenes, dinitropyrenes (DNPs) have the potential to revert Salmonella typhimurium his- mutants. This study was conducted to investigate the potential mutagens present in airborne particulate matter collected in Santiago, Chile. 5 organic substances extracted with dichloromethane showed mutagenic rates of from 38.9 to 287 revertants per m3 of air for S. typhimurium his- strain TA98 without S9 mix. 4 of the samples had greatly reduced mutagenicity for strain TA98/1,8DNP6 but not for strain TA98NR. The 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) content accounted for 0.06-0.15 microgram per g of particulate, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but the contribution of the compound to mutagenicity was less than 1% of the total activity. On the other hand, by using two columns in the HPLC, DNPs of 1,6- and 1,8-isomers were detected in the samples pooled after the determination of 1-NP, and the amount of the derivatives was about 0.2 microgram per g of particulate matter.

Detection and characterization of polymers in cephalothin by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice

Immunization of BALB/c mice by repeated injections of cephalothin (CET) - Ascaris suum extract conjugate resulted in formation of IgE antibodies, which were able to sensitize syngeneic animals for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). By means of high-pressure liquid chromatography, a fraction with extremely high PCA-eliciting activity, but without appreciable antimicrobial activity, was isolated from the CET preparation. Physicochemical analyses of the fraction identified the major component of polymer impurities as being a proteinaceous complex with a molecular weight of 6,580. Very little cross-reactivity of CET and potassium benzyl penicillin (PcG) was noted when these antibiotics were used as the challenge antigens for PCA induced by corresponding murine antisera. The results of the inhibition studies indicated, however, that at least two antigens were involved in the PCA induced by anti-CET antibodies, one strictly specific for CET and another shared by PcG. Evidence was also presented that the nucleus structure and acyl side-chain structure of CET play the major role in the PCA elicited by the challenge with CET and its polymer, respectively.

Some findings on mutagenicity in airborne particulate pollutants

Mutagenic activity in particulate airborne pollutants in several samples collected in a wide variety of industrial, residential, and small-scale factory districts over the past seven years was detected by the Ames test. The particulate air samples that were not contaminated with several chemicals such as NO (less than 0.001 ppm), NO2 (less than 0.001 ppm), and SO2 (less than 0.001 ppm) showed only low mutagenic activity (1 revertant/m3) when they were tested with Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 in the presence of S9 mix. However, most of the samples polluted by particulate matters showed high mutagenicity, with responses varying from 2.4 to 445 revertants per m3: 67 samples from an industrial area induced an average of 44 revertants per m3; 60 from a residential area, 16.2; and 10 from a small-scale factory area, 72.1. For assessing the mutagenic potential of the pollution in the atmosphere, the frequency of mutation determined with strain TA98 in the presence of S9 mix was used to divide the samples tentatively into five groups (A-E) on the basis of the normal logarithmic distribution curve of 137 samples. Air samples belonging to group A gave less than 2.3 revertants per m3 of air (1.12 +/- 0.12, no pollution); those of group B gave a range of 2.4 to 8.6 (5.93 +/- 1.91, slight pollution); those of group C gave a range of 8.7 to 30.2 (16.0 +/- 5.36, moderate pollution); those of group D gave a range of 30.3 to 115 (56.7 +/- 20.1, considerable pollution); and those of group E gave more than 116 (234 +/- 119, heavy pollution). Of the 137 samples tested, 6 samples (4.4%) were assigned to group A, 38 (27.7%) to group B, 52 (38.0%) to group C, 34 (24.8%) to group D, and 7 (5.1%) to group E. Furthermore, the samples in an industrial area were classified in the order of group C (35.8%), group B (26.9%), group D (22.4%), group E (8.96%), and group A (5.97%), and those in a residential area in the order of group C (46.7%), group B (33.3%), group D (18.3%), and group A (1.67%).

Antigenicity of beta-lactam antibiotic preparations: production of IgE antibodies to beta-lactam antibiotic and their cross-reaction within the antibiotic group

BALB/C mice were immunized with conjugate of benzylpenicillin or ampicillin with Ascaris suum extract. The mice developed IgE antibodies to penicillin, which were found to react with commercially available penicillin preparations in the PCA system. Elimination of polymerized penicillin by Sephadex chromatography from tested preparations could not diminish their activities to elicit PCA. High pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of PcG preparation yielded fractions unable to elicit PCA. On the other hand, all fractions from ABPC retained the activity even after the HPLC purification. A comparative estimation of cross-reactivity of IgE and IgE antipenicillin antibodies showed that IgE antibodies cross-reacted with a variety of beta-lactam antibiotics in a high degree.

Carcinogenicity in rats of the mutagenic compounds 1-nitropyrene and 3-nitrofluoranthene

1-Nitropyrene and 3-nitrofluoranthene are present in diesel exhaust, in pollutants in air, and were also present in certain xerographic toners and copies. Their carcinogenicities were studied in male F344/DuCrj rats by subcutaneous injection. Sarcomas, mainly malignant fibrous histiocytomas at the site of injection were induced in 8 to 17 (47%) rats by 1-nitropyrene and in 4 of 10 (40%) rats by 3-nitrofluoranthene. Some tumors were serially transplantable in the same strain of rats.

Mutagenicity of nitro derivatives induced by exposure of aromatic compounds to nitrogen dioxide

Mutagenic nitro derivatives were readily induced when 6 kinds of chemicals were exposed to 10 ppm of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Single nitro derivatives were formed from pyrene, phenanthrene, fluorene or chrysene. Carbazole and fluoranthene each produced 2 derivatives substituted with nitro groups at different positions. The formation of nitro derivatives was enhanced by exposure of pyrene to NO2 containing nitric acid (HNO3, less than 100-fold enhancement) or sulphur dioxide (SO2, less than 15-fold enhancement). After 24 h of exposure the yields of the nitro derivative were 0.02% with 1 ppm of NO2 in air and 2.85% with NO2 (1 ppm) containing traces of HNO3. The nitro derivatives from all but phenanthrene and carbazole were chemically identified by means of gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS), and the mutagenicity of the 4 kinds of authentic nitro derivatives was tested by using Salmonella strains TA98 and TA1538 with or without the S9 fraction from rat liver treated with Aroclor 1254. The nitro derivative induced from pyrene was determined to be 1-nitropyrene; that of chrysene was 6-nitrochrysene; that of fluorene was 2-nitrofluorene; and those of fluoranthene were 3-nitrofluoranthene, and 8-nitrofluoranthene. Tested with strain TA98 in the absence of the S9 fraction, the first 4 of these derivatives yielded, respectively, 3050, 269, 433 and 13 400 revertants per nmole. Thus, each nitro derivative formed was potentially a direct-acting frameshift-type mutagen. Each compound exposed to NO2 showed a decreased mutagenic activity when tested in the presence of S9 mix. A possible explanation comes from experiments in which 1-nitropyrene was incubated with the S9 mix at 37 degree C for 10 min, and 1-aminopyrene was formed. The mutagenic activity of 1-aminopyrene was appreciable, but only about one-tenth of that of 1-nitropyrene in the Ames test.

FK phage for differentiating the classical and El T or groups of Vibrio cholerae

A new vibrio-infecting phage (FK phage) isolated from sewage lysed all strains of Vibrio cholerae biovar cholerae, whereas all strains of V. cholerae biovar El Tor were resistant to it. FK phage was entirely different from Mukerjee group IV phage in morphology and antigenicity. In addition to group IV phage, the use of FK phage will be useful in the examination and typing of V. cholerae.

Detection of mutagenic activity in automobile exhaust

Using the Ames Salmonella-microsome system, we detected mutagenic activity in the exhaust from two kinds of 4-cycle gasoline engines of unregulated and regulated cars, and from diesel engines, as well as in the particulates from air collected in tunnels. The mutagenicity of particulates from a car equipped with a catalyst (regulated car), as compared with that from an unregulated car, was reduced very much (down to 500 from 4500 revertants/plate/m3 in tester strain TA98). However, the mutagenicity of the ether-soluble acid and neutral fractions from the condensed water of emissions from a regulated car was still high (down to 2880 from 10 900 revertants/plate/m3 in tester strain TA100). The mutagenic activity of emission exhaust from old diesel car engines was very high; the particulates showed 9140 and 19 600 revertants/plate/m3 from strain TA98 incubated with an activating rat-liver S9 fraction. A small diesel engine of the type used for the generation of electric power or in farm machinery also produced exhaust with highly mutagenic particulates. The mutagenic activity of a methanol extract of particulate air pollutants collected in a highway tunnel showed 39 revertants/plate/m3 toward strain TA98 and 87 toward strain TA100. The ether-soluble neutral fraction yielded 86 revertants/plate/m3 from strain TA98 and 100 from strain TA100. This fraction also contained carcinogenic compounds, including benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene and chrysene. Very high mutagenic activity was detected, especially in the particulate air pollutants collected at night, in another tunnel on a superhighway: 60-88 revertants/plate/m3 from strain TA100 for the sample collected by day, but 121-238, by night. Night traffic includes many more diesel-powered vehicles compared with gasoline-powered automobiles.

Mutagenic and chemical assay of extracts of airborne particulates

The mutagenic activity of extracts of airborne particulates was evaluated in the Salmonella system. The mutagenicity of airborne particulates was not always correlated with the content of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the complex mixtures, especially when the samples were collected at different sites. Large-scale fractionation of extracts of airborne particulates was used to determine the content of specific mutagenic chemicals. The neutral fraction of material soluble in cyclohexane and nitromethane contained the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, which accounted for 27.9% of the mutagenic activity of the whole extracts. 9 kinds of PAH compound were identified quantitatively by thin-layer chromatography. They included, per 1000 m3 of air, 12.6 microgram of benzo[e]pyrene (B]e]P), 10.7 microgram of chrysene (CHRY), 10.0 MICROGRAM OF FLUORANTHENE (FL), 6.43 microgram of benzo[ghi]perylene (B[ghi]P), 5.75 microgram of benz[a]anthracene (B[a]A), 5.33 microgram of B[a]P, 3.38 microgram of pyrene (PYR), 1.83 microgram of coronene (COR), and 1.34 microgram of perylene (PERY). Mutagenicity of the ether-soluble acidic, basic and methanol-soluble neutral fractions accounted for 10.9, 9.71 and 6.78% of the total mutagenic activity of crude extract, respectively, when assayed in strain TA98 with liver S9 fraction. The total recovery of mutagenic activity after fractionation was 58%. Two acidic fractions (weak and strong ether-soluble acids) and the methanol-soluble neutral fraction reverted strain TA98 dramatically to prototrophy in the presence of rat-lung S9 fraction more than liver. But the mutagenic chemicals in these fractions remain to be clarified. Direct mutagens were present in essentially all fractions. The particulates, which had diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 micron and were able to penetrate alveoli, contained a high content of mutagens.

Detection of mutagenic activity in particulate air pollutants

Ames's strains of Salmonella typhimurium were used to evaluate the mutagenic activity of airbone particulate materials collected at six different points in the industrial area of Ohmuta and the residential area Fukuoka. Tests were done in presence of rat-liver S-9 fraction isolated from rats that had been treated with Aroclor 1254. When the number of revertant colonies per plate was plotted against the amount of methanol extract of particulate air pollutants, using strain TA98, approximately linear relationships were observed for active samples. Generally, mutagenic activity of the samples increased in proportion to the density of air pollutants. In our system, 38--349 microng of methanol extract, from 0.225--4.51 m3 of air from the factory districts in Ohmuta City gave 100 his+ revertants per plate. On the other hand, 54--2300 microng of air pollutants, from 1.29--14.1 m3 of air from the residential districts in Fukuoka City, gave a comparable activity. Every sample from each area had mutagenic activity. Chemicals in air pollutants were fractionated by alumina column chromatography and identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. More than 28 compounds, including 12 unknown substances were identified as polycyclic hydrocarbons. Twelve of these compounds are already known to be carcinogens and to induce reversions to histidine independence in strain TA98 of Salmonella.