To determine whether oxidative stress after cerebral ischemia–reperfusion affects genetic stability in the brain, we studied mutagenesis after forebrain ischemia–reperfusion in Big Blue transgenic mice (male C57BL/6 strain) containing a reporter lac I gene, which allows detection of mutation frequency. The frequency of mutation in this reporter lac I gene increased from 1.5 to 7.7 (per 100,000) in cortical DNA after 30 min of forebrain ischemia and 8 hr of reperfusion and remained elevated at 24 hr reperfusion. Eight DNA lesions that are characteristic of DNA damage mediated by free radicals were detected. Four mutagenic lesions (2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine, 8-hydroxyadenine, 5-hydroxycytosine, and 8-hydroxyguanine) examined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and one corresponding 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine by a method of HPLC with electrochemical detection increased in cortical DNA two- to fourfold ( p N -glycosylase-sensitive sites. These genes became resistant to the glycosylase within 4–6 hr of reperfusion, suggesting a reduction in DNA damage and presence of DNA repair in nuclear genes. These results suggest that nuclear genes could be targets of free radicals.

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/16/21/6795.full.pdf

Damage, Repair, and Mutagenesis in Nuclear Genes after Mouse Forebrain Ischemia-Reperfusion

In vitro genotoxicity testing needs to include tests in both bacterial and mammalian cells, and be able to detect gene mutations, chromosomal damage and aneuploidy. This may be achieved by a combination of the Ames test (detects gene mutations) and the in vitro micronucleus test (MNvit), since the latter detects both chromosomal aberrations and aneuploidy. In this paper we therefore present an analysis of an existing database of rodent carcinogens and a new database of in vivo genotoxins in terms of the in vitro genotoxicity tests needed to detect their in vivo activity. Published in vitro data from at least one test system (most were from the Ames test) were available for 557 carcinogens and 405 in vivo genotoxins. Because there are fewer publications on the MNvit than for other mammalian cell tests, and because the concordance between the MNvit and the in vitro chromosomal aberration (CAvit) test is so high for clastogenic activity, positive results in the CAvit test were taken as indicative of a positive result in the MNvit where there were no, or only inadequate data for the latter. Also, because Hprt and Tk loci both detect gene-mutation activity, a positive Hprt test was taken as indicative of a mouse-lymphoma Tk assay (MLA)-positive, where there were no data for the latter. Almost all of the 962 rodent carcinogens and in vivo genotoxins were detected by an in vitro battery comprising Ames+MNvit. An additional 11 carcinogens and six in vivo genotoxins would apparently be detected by the MLA, but many of these had not been tested in the MNvit or CAvit tests. Only four chemicals emerge as potentially being more readily detected in MLA than in Ames+MNvit--benzyl acetate, toluene, morphine and thiabendazole--and none of these are convincing cases to argue for the inclusion of the MLA in addition to Ames+MNvit. Thus, there is no convincing evidence that any genotoxic rodent carcinogens or in vivo genotoxins would remain undetected in an in vitro test battery consisting of Ames+MNvit.

A core in vitro genotoxicity battery comprising the Ames test plus the in vitro micronucleus test is sufficient to detect rodent carcinogens and in vivo genotoxins.

Niclosamide, a widely used anthelmintic drug in underdeveloped countries, is known to be mutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium microsomal test system. The urine obtained from mice treated with niclosamide is mutagenic in the TA98 and TA1538 strains. Its effects on mouse-sperm morphology were evaluated in CD1 and (BALB/cJ x DBA/2J) F1 mice after 5 daily oral niclosamide doses of either 60, 80, 100 or 120 mg/kg. A statistically significant increase in abnormal sperm morphology was detected in both CD1 and (BALB/cJ x DBA/2J) F1 mice. No drug-related effects on testis weight nor on sperm count were observed in either genotype. Urine samples obtained from niclosamide-treated F1 mice were assayed with the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1538 both in the absence and presence of beta-glucuronidase. In the absence of glucuronidase, urine mutagenicity increased with increasing dose and the highest doses were toxic. In the presence of glucuronidase, urine mutagenicity and toxicity also increased. Only at the highest dose (120 mg/kg), however, was there a positive correlation between the urine mutagenic activity and an increase in the number of abnormal sperm. The results of this study suggest that the increase in abnormal sperm depends on the systemic presence of non-conjugated niclosamide metabolites.

Sperm shape abnormality and urine mutagenicity in mice treated with niclosamide.

Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) evaluation of 4-hexylresorcinol for use as a processing aid for prevention of melanosis in shrimp.

Oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) is the primary process by which the energy derived from the catabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is used to synthesize ATP in virtually every cell of eukaryotic organisms. Compounds that have a primary action on oxphos have a long history of use to control pests. Today, compounds that disrupt oxphos in the target species are widely used as fungicides and have important uses as insecticides and acaricides. This chapter discusses the toxicology of compounds that have their most important primary toxic effect on oxphos in vertebrates or have a primary effect on mitochondrial oxphos in target species with a probability of similar action in vertebrates. It describes the cell structures and mechanisms involved in oxphos and ATP synthesis, and the different ways by which pesticides can disrupt oxphos and hence cause damage to cells and tissues. Mechanisms by which oxphos is disrupted by pesticides include: inhibiting the operations of the electron transport chain; preventing the electrochemical potential gradient from being coupled to ATP synthesis; blocking the ATP synthase machinery; diverting electrons from the electron transport chain and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS); and arsenolysis. The chapter describes the toxicological consequences of disrupting oxphos by pesticide action and their relevance for toxicity, and provides details of the general properties, uses, and toxicological profiles of several pesticides.

CHAPTER 57 – Inhibitors and Uncouplers of Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation

4 amebicides (chloroquine diphosphate, diiodohydroxyquin, iodochlorohydroxyquin and dehydroemetine) and 6 anthelmintics (bephenium hydroxynaphthoate, 4-hexylresorcinol, mebendazole, niclosamide, pyrantel pamoate and pyrvinium pamoate) were tested for mutagenicity in the Salmonella typhimurium microsomal test system. Frameshift mutations were induced by dehydroemetine and niclosamide following activation by microsomal enzymes, while pyrvinium pamoate induced both frameshift and base-pair substitution mutations with or without metabolic activation. The urine of mice treated with dehydroemetine or pyrvinium pamoate showed no mutagenic activity. However, urine obtained from mice treated with niclosamide was mutagenic in strains TA98 and TA1538. The fluctuation assay showed chloroquine diphosphate to be mutagenic in TA1537, a strain which detects frameshift mutations.

A.M. Zapata

Papers

Mutagenicity of antiamebic and anthelmintic drugs in the Salmonella typhimurium microsomal test system