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D B Couch

Publications and source records attributed to D B Couch.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparative mutagenicity of alkylsulfate and alkanesulfonate derivatives in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Mutation induction and cell killing produced by selected alkylsulfates and alkanesulfonates have been quantitated using the Chinese hamster ovary/hypoxanthine--guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (CHO/HGPRT) system. Dose--response relationships of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity are presented for two alkylsulfates [dimethylsulfate (DMS), diethylsulfate (DES)] and three alkyl alkanesulfonates [methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), and isopropyl methanesulfonate (iPMS)]. Under the experimental conditions employed, cytotoxicity decreased with the size of the alkyl group. DMS was more toxic than DES, and MMS was more toxic than EMS and iPMS. All agents produced linear dose--response of mutation induction: DMS was more mutagenic than DES, and MMS was more mutagenic than EMS and iPMS based on mutants induced per unit mutagen concentration. However, the following relative mutagenic potency was observed when comparisons were made at 10% survival: DES greater than DMS; EMS greater than MMS greater than iPMS.

Cell Line↗

A quantitative assay of mutation induction at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO/HGPRT system): utilization with a variety of mutagenic agents.

The induction of mutation by a variety of mutagens has been measured utilizing the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) locus in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (CHO/HGPRT) system). These mutagens include physical agents such as UV light and X-rays, and chemicals such as alkylating agents, ICR-191, and metallic compounds. This system can also be modified for study of the mutagenicity of promutagens such as dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) which require biotransformation for mutagenic action, either through the addition of a rat liver microsomal activation preparation or through a host-mediated activation step using Balb/c athymic mice.

Acridines↗

Suppression of dimethylnitrosamine mutagenicity by nitrososarcosine and other nitrosamines.

Nitrososarcosine, not mutagenic itself in the host-mediated assay using Salmonella typhimurium G46 as indicator organism, lowered the mutant frequency produced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). Mutant frequency was significantly depressed when 1.0 g/kg nitrososarcosine was administered by gavage 0.5--2.0 h prior to intramuscular injection of 500 mg/kg DMN. Doses of nitrososarcosine as low as 37.2 mg/kg administered 45 min prior to dimethylnitrosamine treatment produced statistically significant reduction of mutant frequency. Dimethylnitrosamine, diethylnitrosamine and dibutylnitrosamine (500 mg/kg) also partially suppressed the mutant frequency produced by 500 mg/kg DMN when administered 45 min prior to dmn. diethylnitrosamine and dibutylnitrosamine were not found to be mutagenic in this test system.

Animals↗

Interactive mutagenicity of sodium nitrite, dimethylamine, methylurea and ethylurea.

Groups of mice were treated per os with sodium nitrite either alone or in combination with nitrosatable amino compounds and tested in the host mediated assay. When mice were treated with sodium nitrite in combination with dimethylamine a small(4-fold) but significant increase in mutant frequency (MF) was observed. Ethylurea or methylurea in combination with sodium nitrite induced 10- or 850-fold increases in MF, respectively. The response to methylurea was dose-dependent with a 6- and 30-fold increase in MF at 5.4 and 11.5 mg/kg NaNO2 and a 6-fold increase at 108 mg/kg methylurea. That this response reflected gastric nitrosation was shown by the disappearance of the response if NaNO2 administration preceded methylurea treatment by 10 min. High MF's were observed if NaNO2 was administered 10 or 20 min after methylurea.

Animals↗

Screening for colon carcinogens--a new strategy.

The major defect of in vivo assays for mutagenic carcinogens may be tissue specificity: a cancer bioassay of a single tissue would not be expected to detect all carcinogens, so the failure of a genetic assay in a single tissue to detect all carcinogens should not be surprising. In the search for an environmental carcinogen responsible for a specific cancer in a particular population, however, it may be that tissue specificity can be advantageous. Assays for genotoxicity directly in the target cells may have higher success rates with fewer false positives than assays in tissues of convenience. For example, to facilitate the search for one or more dietary carcinogens responsible for the high rate of colon cancer in North America, assays for genotoxicity in the target cells themselves, the colonic epithelium, may be useful. To this end we have investigated assays for three different endpoints: nuclear anomalies, sister chromatid exchanges, and gene mutations. Our experience may prove useful for others considering a similar strategy.

Animals↗