Differential effects of chronic alcohol administration to rats on the activation of aromatic amines to mutagens in the Ames test

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Male Wister albino rats were maintained on alcohol-containing liquid diets for 4 weeks. Hepatic Post-mitochondrial preparations derived from these animals were more efficient than control in activating 4-aminobiphenyI and 2-aminofluorene to mutagens in the Ames Test. The alcohol-induced enhancement in mutagenicity was not inhibited by dimethylsulphoxide indicating that the generation of Hydroxyl radicals is not involved. The activation of 2-naphthylamine was not affected by the treatment with alcohol but the mutagenicities of 2-aminoanthracene, benzo[a]pyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene were inhibited. The same treatment markedly increased hepatic microsomal aniline p -hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin O -de-ethylase activities and to a lesser extent benzphetamine N -demethylase and microsomal levels of total cytochromes p-450. It is concluded that chronic alcohol administration to rats modulates the metabolic activation of Pre-carcinogens to their reactive intermediates Presumably by causing the redistribution of cytochrome P-450 isozymes.