title: Evaluation of in vivo mutagenicity of hydroquinone in Muta™ mice.
abstract: Hydroquinone (HQ) is used in skin bleaching agents, hair dyes, and finger nail treatments. Many skin-lightening cosmetics that contain HQ are currently marketed in Japan. Concerns have been expressed regarding health risks to the general population because the carcinogenicity of HQ was previously suggested in animal studies. HQ induced hepatocellular adenomas and forestomach hyperplasias in mice and renal tubular cell adenomas in male rats. In the present study, the lacZ transgenic mutation assay was conducted according to OECD test guideline 488 to determine whether mutagenic mechanisms were involved in HQ-induced carcinogenesis. Male Muta™ mice were repeatedly administered HQ orally at dosages of 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200mg/kg bw/day for 28 days. Body weight gain was decreased in all treatment groups. No significant differences were observed in mutant frequencies in the liver, stomach, lung, or kidney between HQ-treated mice and the concurrent negative controls, whereas the significant induction of mutations was noted in the positive control, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea. These results suggest that a mutagenic mechanism is not responsible for HQ-induced carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Risk Assessment, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Biosafety Research Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masumori
authors.affiliation: Division of Risk Assessment, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mutsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirata-Koizumi
authors.affiliation: Division of Risk Assessment, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: atsushi@nihs.go.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetics and Mutagenesis, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Risk Assessment, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006873:Hydroquinones; D009153:Mutagens; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea; C031927:hydroquinone
keywords: Hydroquinone; Mouse; Transgenic mutation assay