Chromosome breakage is primarily responsible for the micronuclei induced by 1,4-dioxane in the bone marrow and liver of young CD-1 mice.

1,4-Dioxane, a widely used industrial chemical and rodent hepatocarcinogen, has produced mixed, largely negative results in the mouse erythrocyte micronucleus assay. In contrast, a recent report has indicated that 1,4-dioxane induces micronuclei in mouse hepatocytes following in vivo treatment. The objective of this study was to confirm these earlier results and identify the origin of the induced micronuclei. Following an initial range-finding study, mice were administered 1,4-dioxane by gavage at doses ranging from 1500 to 3500 mg/kg. The test animals were also implanted with BrdU-releasing osmotic pumps to allow cell proliferation to be measured in the liver and to increase the sensitivity of the hepatocyte assay. Upon sacrifice, the frequency of micronuclei in the bone marrow erythrocytes and in the proliferating BrdU-labeled hepatocytes was determined. Significant dose-related increases in micronuclei were seen in both the liver and the bone-marrow with significant increases being detected at all the tested doses in the bone marrow and at the 2500 and 3500 mg/kg doses in the liver. Using CREST staining or pancentromeric FISH to determine the origin of the induced micronuclei, it was determined that 80-90% of the micronuclei in both tissues originated from chromosomal breakage. Small increases in centromere-containing micronuclei were also seen in the hepatocytes. Decreases in hepatocyte proliferation as well as in the ratio of bone marrow PCE:NCE were also observed. Based on these results, we conclude that at high doses: (i) dioxane exerts genotoxic effects in both the mouse bone marrow and liver; (ii) the induced micronuclei are formed primarily from chromosomal breakage; and (iii) dioxane can interfere with cell proliferation in both the liver and bone marrow.

Genetic toxicity studies of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-acridinamine (tacrine).

The mutagenicity and clastogenicity of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-acridinamine (tacrine) were studied in vitro using the Salmonella mutagenicity test and the induction of chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, and in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test in vivo. This chemical is currently being used to treat dementia arising from Alzheimer's Disease. Tacrine was mutagenic in Salmonella but did not produce chromosome damage in CHO cells or in mouse bone marrow cells. A clear mutagenic response was seen in strain TA97 with rat and hamster liver S9; inconsistent results were obtained without S9. No mutagenicity was seen in strains TA98 and TA100 without S9, and inconsistent results were seen with S9. There was no induction of chromosome aberrations in cultured CHO cells with or without S9. Oral administration to mice of tacrine daily for three days did not result in the induction of micronuclei in their bone marrow cells. The mutagenic response in Salmonella, and the structure of the molecule, suggests that tacrine may be carcinogenic when tested in rodents. This information must be considered when preparing benefit-risk determinations for medical uses of this substance.

Multilaboratory comparison of in vitro tests for chromosome aberrations in CHO and CHL cells tested under the same protocols.

Different test results have been reported for the same chemicals in two in vitro chromosome aberration test systems, CHL cells tested by a Japanese protocol and CHO cells tested by the US National Toxicology Program [Sofuni et al., Mutat Res 241:173-213,1990]. Here, laboratories in Japan, the US and the UK tested 9 such chemicals in CHL and CHO cells using the same protocols and found all 9 positive in both cell types; differences in earlier conclusions with these chemicals were due mainly to test protocol, not to different sensitivities of the cells. The most important protocol difference is sampling time. Chemicals that were negative in the NTP series using a sampling time of 10 to 13 hours often produced positive results when retested here with a 20- to 24-hour sampling time. While positive results were obtained in both cell types, CHL cells sometimes had higher aberration levels and survived at higher doses than CHO cells would tolerate. This may reflect some intrinsic difference in sensitivity but may also be affected by factors such as cell cycle length and culture media (e.g., oxygen scavenging capacity). The collaboration reported here also contributed to a better understanding of scoring aberrations, especially "gaps"; there was good agreement on what types of aberrations should be included in the totals when scoring criteria were clearly defined, for example, many changes classified as "gaps" by the Japanese system were classified as "breaks" in the scoring systems used in the United States and the United Kingdom, and were appropriately included in total aberration counts.

N-methyl-N'-nitroguanidine: irritation, sensitization, and acute oral toxicity, genotoxicity, and methods for analysis in biological samples.

Currently, N-methyl-N'-nitroguanidine (MNG) is being considered by the U.S. Air Force Armament Laboratory for use in explosive formulations. A mammalian toxicity profile has been performed which includes the analysis of chemical impurities and an assessment of the potential for the metabolism of MNG to 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Potential in situ gastric conversion of MNG to MNNG is a toxicological concern because MNNG is both mutagenic and carcinogenic. The compound was also evaluated in several bioassays to assess its potential genotoxic activity. The acute oral toxicity was determined in male and female Fischer 344 rats administered a single dose of MNG in corn oil. The maximum suspension of MNG that could be delivered, 1 mg MNG/kg body weight, produced no signs of toxic stress during the 14-day observation period. The primary eye and skin irritation potential of MNG was determined in female New Zealand white rabbits using the Draize technique. MNG produced no irritation to intact skin but did produce mild conjunctival irritation. The response of a single guinea pig to the dermal sensitization evaluation indicated that MNG is a weak sensitizer. The results of three genetic tests indicated that MNG does not interact with genetic material. Gastric contents and feces from treated animals showed no evidence of conversion of MNG to MNNG.

Chromosomal breakage following treatment of CHO-K1 cells in vitro with U-68,553B is due to induction of undercondensation of heterochromatin.

Preferential breakage of chromosomes at specific sites (so-called "fragile sites") has been observed to occur spontaneously, and has been induced by some metal salts and chemicals. Furthermore, a heterochromatic region of the long arm of the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) X-chromosome is known to be susceptible to a disproportionately high frequency of spontaneous breakage; unless there is physical displacement of chromatin the resulting achromatic lesions are not scored as structural aberrations. We have encountered such anomalous breakage associated with C-band positive regions of the chromosomes of a CHO-K1 cell line following exposure of the cells to toxic doses of U-68,553B and in this report present evidence that the apparent breaks are due to undercondensed heterochromatin (UH) and evidence that the phenomenon appears to occur at higher frequency in a particular cell line of Chinese hamster. This finding has important implications on the assessment of potential risk due to exposure to the drug. Such apparent breaks at sites of UH in chromosome 1 was not observed in an alternate CHO cell line (CHO-WBL) which supports the notion that the UH associated achromatic lesions in the CHO-K1 line may be a cell line specific phenomenon. Furthermore, careful electron microscopy of the chromosomes revealed chromatin fibers connecting the apparently broken chromosomes. The UH was not observed in the presence of added metabolic activation (S9), and thus the significance of the phenomenon in risk assessment is further reduced. The data presented here provide evidence that sites of UH occur preferentially at locations of C-band positive constitutive heterochromatin in CHO cells; we believe that this is the first report of induced fragile sites in rodent cells in vitro documented in this way. In addition, evidence is presented that U-68,553B lacks the ability to induce breakage in vivo in rodents and lacks the ability to induce chromosome breakage in human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro. Therefore, it is concluded that the positive results with CHO-K1 cells treated with U-68,553B are unlikely to be predictive of a genotoxic hazard. This is a specific example of the importance of careful followup to an in vitro result in risk assessment.

Assessment of the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus assay in mouse bone marrow cells with 16 chemicals.

Assessment of the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus Assay in bone marrow cells with 16 chemicals is described. This assay is based on the detection of kinetochores (KC) in micronuclei (MN) by antikinetochore-specific (CREST) antibodies. Among sixteen chemicals tested, six were known clastogens, three were known aneuploidy-inducers, and the other seven were suspected spindle poisons. These chemicals were tested for their ability to induce micronuclei with kinetochore(s) in bone marrow cells of CD-1 mice. The majority of MN formed in bone marrow cells treated with aneuploidy-inducing agents contained kinetochore(s) which are considered to be formed from whole chromosomes or centric fragments, while in clastogen treated bone marrow cells, majority of them contained no kinetochore(s) which are considered to be formed from acentric chromosomal fragments. Classification of chemicals into either aneuploidy inducing agents or clastogens is based on the relative frequency of MN with and without KC, respectively. These results suggest that the in vivo aneuploidy/micronucleus assay has a great potential to identify aneuploidy-inducing agents.

Comparative mutagenicity testing of bropirimine, 1. Induction of chromosome aberrations in CHO cells is not reflected in induction of mutation at the TK locus of L5178Y cells.

Bropirimine (U-54,461) is a novel compound which is being developed as a biological response modifier for use in treatment of neoplastic and viral disease. Compounds of this type exert their therapeutic effects by immuno-stimulation or other non-cytotoxic mechanisms. The purpose of the experiments described in this paper was to evaluate the hazard potential of this drug. Bropirimine was previously reported to be negative in the Ames Salmonella assay (Aaron et al., 1989a) and the in vitro UDS assay (Aaron et al., 1989b). In experiments reported here positive response was observed in a test for clastogenicity in vitro in CHO cells, but bropirimine was negative in the L5178Y mouse lymphoma TK+/- assay. A subsequent experiment demonstrated the ability of bropirimine to induce HPRT mutations in CHO cells. Interestingly, evidence for induction of chromosome aberrations in the L5178Y cells by bropirimine was also obtained. While the reason for the apparent insensitivity of the L5178Y TK+/- assay to bropirimine is unexplained by the experiments, it is clear that at high dose bropirimine is capable of clastogenesis in both CHO and L5178Y cells and can give rise to gene mutations in CHO cells but apparently not in L5178Y cells.

Comparative mutagenicity testing of bropirimine, 2. Further characterization and mechanistic investigation of clastogenesis.

Bropirimine is an immunomodulator and has been investigated as an antineoplastic drug as well as for antiviral indications. However, the standard of prudence and the level of concern necessary in safety assessment in the alternative therapeutic situations, namely, antineoplastic therapy as opposed to treatment of non-life-threatening viral illnesses, is dramatically different. In previous reports from this laboratory, bropirimine was shown to be non-mutagenic in the Ames Salmonella assay (Aaron et al., 1989b), the in vitro UDS assay (Aaron et al., 1989a) and the L5178Y TK+/- assay but positive in the CHO cell chromosome aberration assay, in the presence of S9 (Aaron et al., 1991a). In this manuscript, we provide data gathered in attempts to further characterize the apparent requirement for S9 and understand the mechanism by which bropirimine induces chromosome aberrations. For example, heat inactivation of the S9 significantly reduced, but did not eliminate, the aberration induction. In addition, collection of mitotic cells without use of colcemid failed to reduce the aberration yield. Furthermore, no evidence of S9-mediated activation of bropirimine to an electrophilic, macromolecular binding species was observed in vitro, nor did lysosomal toxicity appear to contribute to the effect. Several analogs were tested for clastogenic potential; the 5-chloro analog was also clastogenic, but not the 5-iodo-, 5-bromo-3-fluorophenyl- or non-halogenated analogs. Thus, the mechanism of aberration induction remains obscure, but we have confirmed the need for presence of exogenous protein in order for the clastogenicity of bropirimine to be manifest and have ruled out several non-threshold mechanisms for toxicity.

Comparative mutagenicity testing of bropirimine, 3. Bropirimine does not induce cytogenetic damage in vivo in the rat but does produce micronuclei in the mouse.

Bropirimine is a biological response modifier (BRM) with potential antineoplastic and antiviral indications. Recent results have documented the negative findings in the Ames Salmonella assay, the in vitro UDS assay and the mouse lymphoma TK+/- assay as well as positive findings in the in vitro cytogenetic assay in CHO cells. Extensive mechanistic studies failed to establish the reason for positive findings in the in vitro cytogenetic assays. The data reported here cast doubt on the relevance of the in vitro cytogenetic results and suggest limited in vivo genotoxic potential. At doses as high as 150 mg/kg (i.p.) and 6.73 g/kg (p.o.), no evidence of chromosome aberration induction was observed in rat bone marrow cytogenetic assays. Consistent with these data, plasma and bone marrow tissue levels in similarly treated animals were well below those required for activity in the in vitro chromosome aberration assays. Positive results were obtained in the mouse micronucleus assay. However, the significance of these findings may be explained by markedly different pathways of metabolism in that species as compared to the rat. Hence, the findings in the mouse are of questionable relevance to human risk assessment. Exposure of humans to bropirimine, under therapeutically acceptable regimens is unlikely to constitute a genotoxic health hazard.

Induction of chromosome damage by methylene chloride in CHO cells.

The genotoxicity of methylene chloride was determined using sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberration assays in cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Methylene chloride caused extensive chromosome aberrations both with and without metabolic activation. However, the results of the SCE assay were negative for methylene chloride. These results agree with previously observed genotoxic effects of methylene chloride in Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fact that methylene chloride causes chromosome aberrations without increasing the SCE level indicates that complete reliance on the induction of SCE as a test system for assessing chromosomal effects is not valid.

Evaluation of the genetic activity of industrially produced carbon black.

Commercially produced oil furnace carbon black (Chemical Abstract Service Registry No. 1333-86-4) has been evaluated by five different assay for genetic activity. These were the Ames Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test, sister chromatid exchange test in CHO cells, mouse lymphoma test, cell transformation assay in C3H/10T1/2 cells, and assay for genetic effects in Drosophila melanogaster. Limited cellular toxicity was exhibited but no significant genetic activity was noted.

Steroid receptor analyses of nine human breast cancer cell lines.

Nine human breast cancer cell lines in permanent tissue culture and currently available to researchers have been assayed for their content of cytoplasmic estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, androgen receptors, and glucocorticoid receptors, as well as for the presence of unfilled or hormone-filled nuclear estrogen receptors. Receptor distribution varied considerably among the nine lines and differed from the expected distribution predicted from solid tumors. We find that estrogen receptor, when present, is usually localized in the nucleus as unfilled nuclear estrogen receptor. Progesterone receptor is correlated with presence of unfilled nuclear estrogen receptor. Glucocorticoid receptors are ubiquitous; they were found in all cell lines tested. The distribution of androgen receptor and progesterone receptor differed, suggesting that these proteins are dissimilar.