Mutagens germ cell

A mutagen is a chemical that can induce alterations in the DNA. Mutations occurring in germ cells are inheritable and may lead to genetic diseases. If mutations take place in somatic cells, carcinogenesis may be initiated. 

Waters MD, Stack HF, Jackson MA, et al. 1994. The performance of short-term tests in identifying potential germ cell mutagens A qualitative and quantitative analysis. Mutat Res 341 109-131. 

In vivo mammalian mutation tests are not restricted to germ cell tests. The mouse spot test described below is, again, a test used first for studying radiation-induced mutation but has also been used for screening chemicals for in vivo mutagenic potential. This test has had several proponents but compared with in vivo chromosomal assays is not widely used. 

Adler, I.D. and Ashby, J. (1989). The present lack of evidence for unique rodent germ-cell mutagens. Mutation Res. 212 55-66. 

ICEMC (1983). Committee Final Report screening strategy for chemicals that are potential germ-cell mutagens in mammals. Mutation Res. 114 117-177. 

Bentley KS, Working PK. 1988. Activity of germ-cell mutagens and nonmutagens in the rat spermatocyte UDS assay. Mutat Res 203 135-142. 

A mutagenic effect of ozone on germ cells was suggested by the study of Brinkman et in which female mice exposed to ozone at 0.1-0.2 ppm, 7 h/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks before birth, demonstrated a fourfold increase in neonatal mortality. A further report of this study noted increased blepharophimosis and jaw anomalies and a decrease in litter size. An artificial oxidant smog mixture derived from irradiated auto exhaust has also been reported to cause an increase in neonatal mortality in mice. ... 

The spermatogonial test is used to identify substances that cause structural chromosome aberrations in mammalian spermatogonial cells, and is designed to investigate whether somatic cell mutagens are also active in germ cells. This test is not designed to measure numerical aberrations and is not routinely used for this purpose. 

OECD. 1999b. Detailed review document on classification systems for germ cell mutagenicity in OECD member countries. OECD Series on Testing and Assessment No. 12. Environment Directorate, Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and the Working Party on Chemicals. ENV/JM/MONO(99)2. Paris OECD. 

Many chemicals possess mutagenic properties, which present a potential hazard to future generations because mutations in germ cells of sexually reproducing organisms may be transmitted to the... 

Acrylic acid was not mutagenic in five strains of Salmonella typhimurium with or without metabolic activation by liver micro-somes. Results were also negative (nonmuta-genic) in an number of in vivo assays in both somatic and germ cells. ... 

BPL is a direct-acting alkylating agent and forms DNA adducts. It is mutagenic in a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo systems, both in somatic and germ cells. The lARC has determined that BPL is carcinogenic in experimental animals and that it is possibly carcinogenic to humans. ... 

Studies are not needed if the substance is a known genotoxic carcinogen and/or a germ cell mutagen and appropriate risk management measures are implemented. Also, the studies are not needed if the substance has no evidence of toxicity, there is no systemic absorption (from toxicokinetic data) and there is no significant human exposure. 

The basic idea of the CLH process is the transfer of responsibility for classification and labeling from industrial companies to authorities on a European Community level. In case of active substances in biocidal or plant protection products, all intrinsic properties including physicochemical properties, human health hazards, and environmental hazards are subject to the harmonization. By contrast, in the case of chemicals which are used in other application fields only some specific hazard classes are considered in the CLH procedure. According to Article 36 of the CLP Regulation, these are respiratory sensitization, carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, and reproductive toxicity. Consequently, these provisions have... 

Rozmiarek, H., Capizzi, R.L., Papirmeister, 8., Fuhrman, W.H., and Smith, W.J. Mutagenic activity in somatic and germ cells following chronic inhalation of sulfur mustard. Mutat. Res. 21 13-14, 1973. (abstract)... 

Diepoxybutane is a potent bifunctional alkylating agent which reacts with DNA in vitro and in vivo. As a result, it is mutagenic in virtually all test systems including effects in somatic and germ cells of mammals exposed in vivo. In vivo, it induced DNA adducts, dominant lethal mutations and gene mutations in mice chromosomal aberrations... 

Lahdetie, J., Peltonen, K. Sjoblom, T. (1997) Germ cell mutagenicity of tlirce metabolites of 1,3-butadiene in the rat induction of spermatid micronuclei by butadiene mono-, di-, and diol-epoxides in vivo. Environ, mol. Mutag., 29, 230-239... 

Feldt, E.G, Zhurkov, VS. Sysin, A.N. (1985) Study of the mutagenic effects of benzene and toluene in the mammalian somatic and germ cells (Abstract). Mutat. Res., 147. 294... 

---