title: A practical procedure for testing DNA damage in vivo, proposed for a pre-screening of chemical carcinogens.
abstract: The alkaline elution method was adapted to the evaluation of DNA damage induced in vivo through a practical and reliable microfluorometric procedure, without any need for tissue pre-labeling. The DNA damage induced in vivo by treatment with a single dose of N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMNA), N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea (MNU), 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) or cycasin has been detected in different organs of mice or rats. The results obtained are rather consistent with the organotropism of these carcinogens, and show a satisfactory dose dependent of DNA damage. DMH and cycasin, both negative in the Ames' Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test, are clearly positive with in vivo DNA damage/alkaline elution assay. This latter method, complemented with other short-term tests, may play a useful role in the pre-screening of chemical carcinogens.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003492:Cycasin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004127:Dimethylhydrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D004127:Dimethylhydrazines; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D004247:DNA; D003492:Cycasin; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine