Literature Survey of Bacterial, Fungal, and <italic>Drosophila</italic> Assay Systems Used in the Evaluation of Selected Chemical Compounds for Mutagenic Activity<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2">2</xref>

Abstract

Literature reports were surveyed, with results noted from experiments in seven nonmammalian assay systems used for the detection of mutagenicity or other related genetic effects. A comparison was made of the activities of 54 selected noncarcinogens, procarcinogens, and ultimate carcinogens as revealed by these test systems. Of the compounds tested, 49 (91%) were active in one or more of the assays, and 42 (78%) were positive in at least one system without having to be metabolically activated. In one or more test systems, 17/17 (100%) of the ultimate carcinogens, 27/28 (96%) of the procarcinogens, and 6/9 (67%) of the noncarcinogens were positive. The Ames Salmonella-microsome assay responded with increased mutation frequency to 37/44 (84%) of the carcinogenic compounds but to only 2/8 (25%) of the noncarcinogens tested. The Drosophila system responded to 19/21 (90%) of the carcinogens and to 3/6 (50%) of the noncarcinogens. Prophages were induced when lysogenic bacteria were exposed to 12/21 (57%) of the carcinogens, but not enough tests were done with the noncarcinogens (1/3, or 33%) for a comparison. The other systems reviewed, such as the killing of repair-deficient bacteria, mutations in Escherichia coli and Neurospora crassa, and the host-mediated assay, were not challenged by enough of the compounds for valid comparisons.