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Biomedical subjects

M Mercier

Publications and source records attributed to M Mercier.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Liver extract mediated mutagenicity of acrylonitrile.

The mutagenic activity of acrylonitrile vapours towards Salmonella typhimurium strains strictly depends upon the presence of a liver postmitochondrial fraction. The reversion rate varies according to the animal species from which the S9 fraction is obtained as well as to the pretreatment of the animals. The comparatively weak activating effect of the microsomal fraction and the inability of both SKF525A and carbon monoxide to inhibit the S9 mediated mutagenicity of acrylonitrile (ACN) suggest that the cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases do not play a major role in the metabolic activation of ACN into a mutagenic intermediate (s).

Acrylonitrile↗
PubMed1978

Sensitive gas chromatographic methods for the determination of vinyl epoxide synthetase activity using trichloroethylene as a model substrate.

Two specific and very sensitive methods for the determination of vinyl epoxide synthetase activity in liver microsomes are described. Trichloroethylene, which is used as a substrate, is converted into trichloroethylene oxide by a hepatic epoxide synthetase. Chloral hydrate, the final rearrangement product of trichloroethylene oxide, is determined by electron-capture gas chromatography, either after derivatization with pentafluorophenylhydrazine or after its conversion into chloroform under alkaline conditions. The kinetic parameters of the epoxidation reaction were determined on rat hepatic microsomal suspensions.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

A very sensitive gas chromatographic method for the evaluation of styrene oxidase and styrene oxide hydratase activities.

Styrene is a compound widely used in the manufacture of polystyrenic plastics and it has recently been shown to exert mutagenic effects after metabolic activation into styrene oxide by the microsomal mixed function oxidases; this oxide is further converted into inactive styrene glycol. In order to investigate the relative importance of activation and desactivation processes of styrene, we developed a gas chromatographic method which enables us to simultaneously measure styrene oxide and styrene glycol formed after incubation of styrene with microsomal preparations from different tissues. After selective extraction of the two compounds from the incubation mixture, they are derivatized with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride and measured by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector. The high sensitivity of the method, which allows 0.01 ng of both compounds to be measured, as well as its selectiveity, has permitted us to adequately evaluate the kinetic parameters of styrene oxidase and styrene oxide hydratase activities, as well as their modifications under the influence of various pretreatments of the animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

A gas chromatographic method for the evaluation of the vinyl epoxidase activity.

Two alternative specific and very sensitive methods for determination of vinyl epoxide synthetase activity in liver microsomes are described. Trichloroethylene, which is used as a substrate, is converted into trichloroethylene oxide by a hepatic epoxide synthetase. Chloral hydrate, the final rearrangement product of trichloroethylene oxide, is evaluated by electron capture gas chromatography, either after derivatization with pentafluorophenyl-hydrazine or after its conversion into chloroform under alcaline conditions. The kinetic parameters of the epoxidative reaction have been determined on rat hepatic microsomal suspensions.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Mutagenicity of acrylonitrile.

Incubation of Salmonella typhimurium strains in an atmosphere of 0.2% gaseous acrylonitrile increased the numbers of his+ revertants/plate only in the presence of a fortified S9 liver fraction. The mutagenic effect was particularly pronounced with strains TA1530, TA1535 and TA1950 and much weaker with strains TA100, TA98 and TA1978. The results of bacterial fluctuation tests confirmed the necessity of the presence of S9 mix and showed the particular sensitivity of TA1530. The reversion rate varied with the S9 mix composition, the animal species utilized and the type of pretreatments applied to the animals. The mutagenicity of acrylonitrile in S. typhimurium is therefore microsome-mediated and is particularly discernable with strains sensitive to base-substitution mutagens.

Acrylonitrile↗
PubMed1978

Specific modification of the properties of the N-hydroxylase. Relationship with carcinogenesis by aromatic amides.

N-hydroxylation represents the first and limiting step in the metabolic pathway leading to the carcinogenic activity of aromatic amines and amides. Using a method recently developed by the same authors (Analytical Biochemistry, in press), the effects of pretreatment of male adult rats with N-2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF), N-4-acetylaminofluorene (4AAF), N-4-acetyl-aminobiphenyl, (4-AABP), and phenobarbital (PB), on the kinetic parameters of the N-hydroxylase activity have been evaluated and compared. Our resutls clearly demonstrate that both hepatocarcinogenic amides, 2-AAF and 4-AABP very significantly increase the affinity of the activating enzyme towards both substrates; on the other hand, 4-AAF and PB, which are non-carcinogenic compounds slightly decrease the affinity of the enzyme. In conclusion, the carcinogenic aromatic amides seem to specifically modify the catalytic properties of the enzyme responsible for their own metabolic activation.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1978

Gamma glutamyl transferase: application of a new radiochemical assay to the analysis of its subcellular distribution in the rat liver.

gamma-Glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) is a key catalyst in the metabolism of glutathione. Its activity in the rat liver is usually very low but it increases significantly during the process of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. A new radiochemical assay is reported which measures the amount of 3H-aniline liberated from gamma-glutamyl-3H-anilide. This assay is highly specific and no biological substances interferes. By applying this new assay to the analysis of the subcellular distribution of the rat liver gamma-GT, it is shown that it distributes between two pools, one which corresponds to a membrane-bound enzyme, the other to a soluble enzyme. The subcellular distribution of gamma-GT is discussed by comparison with the patterns of distribution of classical marker enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Acute biotoxic effect of styrene on rat liver. Correlation with enzyme-mediated mutagenicity of benzpyrene and acrylonitrile.

Styrene is commonly used in western Europe for the manufacture of plastics suitable for packaging foodstuffs. This report demonstrates that, injected intraperitoneally at a dose as low as 10 mg/kg, styrene modifies the catalytic properties of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase by reducing its KM value. A similar effect is reported for two potent chemical carcinogens, 3-methylcholanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene. Ethylbenzene and benzo(e)pyrene and phenobarbital do not produce the same effect. Pretreatments of the rats with chemicals which modify aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase also increase the capacity of the liver enzymes to activate benzopyrene to a mutagenic intermediate in vitro, as measured by the Ames test for mutagenicity. Exposure to both styrene and the other modifiers of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes could thus influence the carcinogenic and toxic effects of chemicals which are activated by these enzymes. This hypothesis needs further investigation.

Animals↗