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Biomedical subjects

L Horn

Publications and source records attributed to L Horn.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A comparison of alternative measures of mutagenic potency in the Salmonella (Ames) test.

Both the spontaneous and the induced mutation rates in Salmonella tester strains vary among different laboratories, and also within the same laboratory over time. If there is an association between spontaneous and induced mutagenesis, a measure of mutagenic potency that incorporates the background may be more consistent than the simple measure of the induced slope. We have used the statistical procedures recently described by Bernstein et al. (1982), and a large data-base of Salmonella test results to examine the association between spontaneous and induced mutation and to compare several alternative measures of mutagenic potency. A correlation analysis indicated an association between spontaneous and induced mutation for TA98, TA1537 and TA1535; TA1538 was close to being significant. This was observed over a wide range of chemicals. In addition, for TA98, for which we observed the strongest association, we obtained a rough estimate of the relationship between slope and intercept by using least squares to fit K and p in the power curve beta = k alpha p. We then chose 3 simple potency measures: the slope, the ratio of slope to spontaneous background, and the ratio of slope to the square-root of spontaneous background. These corresponded to the range of p's estimated from the least-squares fit procedure. The reproducibility of these measures was compared and no significant differences were found. Though there were some differences in the relative potency ranking of chemicals using the different measures, they were highly correlated.

Mutagenicity Tests↗

Increased carcinogenic action of dimethylnitrosamine after prior administration of carbon tetrachloride.

Rats were given a single dose of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN, 20 mg/kg body weight) alone or 42 or 60 hours after a non-lethal hepatotoxic dose of carbon tetrachloride (CC1(4)) and killed 12 months later. DMN alone produced no tumours in the kidney and a few in the liver, but when given 42 hours after CC1(4), tumours formed in the kidneys and the number in the liver was increased. When given after 60 hours, the incidence of kidney tumours was less but that of liver tumours was further increased. A larger dose of DMN (40 mg/kg) was tolerated 42 hours after CC1(4) and enhanced the number of kidney and liver tumours, the latter apparently due to an increased proportion of cholangiomata. Numerous small focal proliferations of atypical liver cells and of bile duct epithelium were observed after treatment with DMN. The incidence of these lesions in the different experimental treatments varied in a similar manner to the liver tumours.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Statistical analysis of Salmonella test data and comparison to results of animal cancer tests.

A quantitative framework for the analysis of results of the Salmonella (Ames) test is presented, and the relationship between mutagenesis and carcinogenesis is examined. Color graphics are used for the Salmonella data to describe variability, and trends across multiple chemicals and test conditions. Positivity in the Salmonella test, using statistical criteria to classify results, is compared to positivity in carcinogenesis bioassays for 48 chemicals tested in NCI/NTP-sponsored programs. Sensitivity of the Salmonella test across 5 tester strains was 91% (21/23), while specificity was only 36% (9/25). Results were most concordant for TA100 Aroclor-induced rat S9: sensitivity was 87%, specificity 64%. The correlation of mutagenic potency and carcinogenic potency was 0.41 (p less than 0.001) for 80 chemicals, using results from both the general published literature and the NCI/NTP-sponsored programs. After removal of 3 extreme values, the correlation was 0.24 (p = 0.04).

Animals↗

Role of sulfate conjugation in estrogen metabolism and activity.

There has been an increasing interest in the sulfate conjugates of estrogens as important metabolites in steroid hormone homeostasis and activity. In women estrogen sulfates have been known as major components of plasma originating from ovarian secretion and hepatic metabolism. However, only recently has the capacity to sulfurylate estrogens been demonstrated in estrogen target tissues. Porcine uterus estrogen sulfotransferase appears only after the first complete estrous cycle. Following puberty, gilt uterine sulfurylation of estrogens is extremely active during diestrus, whereas estrogen sulfotransferase is not present during estrus. This cycling of estrogen sulfurylation in porcine and human uteri can be related directly to plasma progesterone levels. Rodent and human mammary tumors are also highly active in both steroid alcohol and estrogen sulfotransferases. Unlike uterine sulfotransferases, these enzymes are apparently stimulated by factors that appear following ovariectomy. The function of estrogen sulfurylation by target tissues remains obscure. However, recent investigations have indicated that the cyclic variation in endometrial estrogen sulfurylation may control the availability of 17 beta-estradiol to the cytoplasmic receptor. This premise is supported by the continued high estrogen sulfurylation activity and low nuclear receptor levels during implantation in fertilized gilts and sows. Utilizing purified bovine adrenal sulfotransferase, the substrate and inhibitor requirements were determined for this enzymes. It was also possible to design a specific inhibitor that will block estrogen sulfurylation without interfering with the receptor binding and nuclear migration of physiological levels of 17 beta-estradiol. This inhibitor, 3-methoxy-4-nitroestrone, will help in establishing the role of uterine and mammary estrogen sulfurylation.

Animals↗