Furan carcinogenicity: DNA binding and genotoxicity of furan in rats in vivo

Abstract

The (14) C-content in liver DNA was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner, with mean concentrations of 7.9 ± 3.5 amol (14) C/μg DNA and 153.3 ± 100.2 amol (14) C/μg DNA, corresponding to 16.5 ± 7.4 and 325.2 ± 212.7 adducts/10(9) nucleotides at 0.1 and 2.0 mg/kg bw, respectively. There was no evidence for genotoxicity of furan in peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. However, a dose-related increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in rat splenocytes and some indication of DNA damage in liver were observed. Collectively, results from this study indicate that furan may operate-at least in part-by a genotoxic mode of action.