Mutagenicity of heterocyclic amines when activated by pancreas tissue.

ABSTRACT

The heterocyclic amines (HA) 2-aminodipyrido[1,2-a3',2-d]imidazole (Glu-P-2), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) were mutagenic in V79 cells (Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts) using 6-thioguanine resistance as the marker of mutagenicity. Pancreas duct epithelial cells (DEC) from untreated hamsters, homogenates of pancreas ducts from untreated hamsters and those fed a high fat diet and human DEC were used to activate the heterocyclic amines. When hamster cells and tissues were used the optimum mutation frequencies (mutants/10(6) survivors) measured were Glu-P-2, 10 +/- 1; MeIQ, 28 +/- 2 (DEC), 12 +/- 2 (control, duct homogenate), and 21 +/- 2 (high fat diet fed, duct homogenate); PhIP, 61 +/- 5. When human DEC were used the optimum mutation frequencies were MeIQ, 32 +/- 4; PhIP, 35 +/- 3. 3,8-Dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole were not mutagenic in this assay.