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Biomedical subjects

M T King

Publications and source records attributed to M T King.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Study of artificial flavouring substances for mutagenicity in the Salmonella/microsome, Basc and micronucleus tests.

Seventy-six compounds used as artificial flavouring substances in food products were studied for mutagenic properties by the use of the Salmonella/mammalian microsome test (Ames test), Basc test on Drosophila melanogaster and micronucleus test on mouse bone marrow. The following four compounds were mutagenic in Ames tests: ethyl nitrite, ethyl 3-phenylglycidate, 6-methylquinoline and musk ambrette. Of these, ethyl nitrite and musk ambrette also induced a significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increase in sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila. Two further compounds, ethyl 3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate and 4-n-propylanisole, appeared weakly mutagenic in Drosophila only. The result with 4-n-propylanisole was judged to be of equivocal biological significance. None of the flavouring substances induced micronuclei, i.e. cytogenetic damage in the bone marrow of mice.

Animals↗

Distribution of 14C-labelled acrylamide and betaine in foetuses of rats, rabbits, beagle dogs and miniature pigs.

[14C]Acrylamide and [14C]betaine hydrochloride were administered in a single iv dose to pregnant rats, rabbits, beagle dogs and miniature pigs late in gestation (1-2 days before expected parturition). Dosages used were 10 mg/kg for rats and 5 mg/kg for the other species. The compounds were allowed to equilibrate in the animal (for 1 hr in rats and for 2 hr in the other species); the dam was then killed and the foetuses were removed by caesarean section. Each foetus was weighed and analysed for radioactivity, either by homogenization of the whole foetus (rat and rabbit) or by determining separately the radioactivity in individual organs and tissues (dog and pig). Foetal uptake of the polar compound betaine hydrochloride was much lower than that of the more lipophilic acrylamide. The sex of the foetus did not appear to affect uptake of either compound. There were no significant differences in total uptake of isotope attributable to the position of the foetus within the uterus in any of the four species given either acrylamide or betaine. Similarly, uterine position did not affect the uptake of acrylamide or betaine by individual tissues of foetal dogs or pigs. Since the distributions of 14C-labelled acrylamide and betaine hydrochloride were essentially uniform throughout a litter, it would not be necessary to sample all of the members of a litter to obtain a representative picture of foetal distribution.

Acrylamides↗

5-Bromodeoxyuridine tablets with improved depot effect for analysis in vivo of sister-chromatid exchanges in bone-marrow and spermatogonial cells.

An improved 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) tablet technique for observation in vivo of SCE in mouse bone-marrow and spermatogonial cells is described. BrdU tablets were coated with agar as protecting barrier before subcutaneous implantation into mice. In comparison with the original tablets, the agar-coated tablets provided a slower and more uniform delivery of BrdU to the animals. This was corroborated (1) by recovering the undissolved portion of tablets at 1-2-h intervals, and (2) by quantitative determination of the BrdU levels in blood with the help of an analytical HPLC technique. The time required for complete dissolution of the coated tablets was considerably longer than that for the original tablets. This means that the dose of BrdU required for observation of SCE in mouse bone-marrow cells can be reduced accordingly. By using these modified tablets, therefore, undesired effects of high doses of BrdU on mutation (base-line SCE frequency) as well as on cellular replication and proliferation can be diminished. Moreover, the improved depot effect of the modified tablets facilitates the differential labeling of sister chromatids in mouse spermatogonia, a tissue containing cells with a relatively long DNA synthesis period.

Animals↗

Mutagenicity study of fried sausages in Salmonella, Drosophila and mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo.

The basic extract of pan-fried sausages was studied for mutagenic potential in seven test systems. Mutagenic activity was high in the standard Ames assay in the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1538 and TA98 in presence of S9 mix. In vivo, in the intrasanguine host-mediated assay with strain TA98 on Aroclor-pretreated mice, the mutagenic activity of the extract was low. A borderline activity was seen in the SCE assay in vitro with V79 Chinese hamster cells in presence of S9 mix. No significant mutagenic action was found in the gene-mutation assay for thioguanine resistance with V79 cells, the Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal test, the micronucleus test and the mammalian spot test.

Animals↗

Time required to achieve homogeneity in swine feed mixtures.

FD&C Red No. 3 was mixed with 20 kg pig feed to give a concentration of 0.1%. A mixing time of 30 min was sufficient to achieve homogeneity for this mixture. For larger amounts or more flocculent types of additives, a longer time may be required. Ammoniated glycyrrhizin was mixed with 8 separate batches of pig feed at a concentration of 1%; 1 h was sufficient mixing time.

Animal Feed↗

Flap wounds of the shin.

This survey is based on 113 patients with flap wounds of the shin treated by cleaning and securing the wound flaps with Steristrips and covering them with dry gauze, compression bandaging and elevating the leg at rest. Eighteen of the 113 patients had sutures inserted, 2 of them in other hospitals. These cases were consecutive and unselected and a further 450 patients have since been treated in the same way.

Adolescent↗

Mutagenicity of cosmetics ingredients licensed by the European Communities.

As part of our investigation into mutagenic effects of environmental compounds, we studied chemicals allowed as ingredients of cosmetics according to the guidelines of the Council of the European Communities (27 July 1976). We used three systems, the Salmonella/microsome test, the Basc test on Drosophila and the micronucleus test on mouse bone marrow. Of the 31 chemicals tested, 15 were mutagenic in the Ames test; and of these, 5 were also mutagenic in the Basc test and 2 in the micronucleus test.

Animals↗

Changes in liver inorganic pyrophosphate content during ethanol metabolism.

The injection of ethanol (70 mmol/kg body weight) into male Wistar rats fed ad libitum caused an increase within 15 min in the liver inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) content from 0.012 +/- 0.001 mumol/g (wet weight) to 0.029 +/- 0.001 mumol/g. The injection of acetate (20 mmol/kg body weight) increased the liver PPi to 0.157 +/- 0.075 mumol/g in 15 min. The alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole blocked the accumulation of acetate and the increase in PPi was prevented. Disulfiram, an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase, did not prevent changes in redox state, but the accumulation of acetate in the liver was decreased and the increase in liver PPi content was diminished (0.019 +/- 0.003 mumol/g). These data suggest that the increase in PPi observed after injection of ethanol may be due to the activation of the acetate produced during ethanol and acetaldehyde oxidation.

Animals↗

Cytogenetic effect of ortho-phenylenediamine in the mouse, Chinese hamster, and guinea pig and of derivatives, evaluated by the micronucleus test.

The mutagenic potential of ortho-phenylenediamine--known by studies on Salmonella typhimurium--was studied in mice, Chinese hamsters and Guinea pigs with the use of the micronucleus test. In bone marrow of all three species, chromosomal damage was detected following intraperitoneal injections of the test chemical, this damage was seen also after peroral administration to mice. Four derivatives of ortho-phenylenediamine containing one or two methyl-, nitro- or chlorosubstituents in 4- or 5-position of the aromatic ring were studied in mice. Of these the 4-methyl-derivative induced micronuclei, the 4-nitro-, 4,5-dimethyl-, and 4,5-dichloroderivatives were inactive. The results indicate that the chemical nature and the number of substituents influence the chromosome damaging potential.

Animals↗

Mutagenicity study of Remsen-Fahlberg saccharin and contaminants.

Saccharin and contaminants of commercial Remsen-Fahlberg saccharin were studied for mutagenic potential with the use of the Salmonella/microsome test, Basc-test in Drosophila melanogaster and micronucleus test in mice. In none of these tests were mutagenic effects of saccharin observed. Likewise, the ortho- and para-sulfamoylbenzoic acids (OSBA and PSBA) were ineffective. Para-toluenesulfonamide (PTS) and the major contaminant ortho-toluene-sulfonamide (OTS) exhibited weak mutagenic effects in a modified Salmonella/microsome test and in Drosophila. These results do not indicate mutagenic and therewith correlated carcinogenic potential of saccharin, but they emphasize the possible activity of contaminants.

Animals↗

Transplacental mutagenesis: the micronucleus test on fetal mouse blood.

The induction of cytogenetic damage (micronuclei) in mouse fetal blood was studied with four selected mutagens: cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, trenimon, and mitomycin-C. For comparison the standard micronucleus test on maternal bone marrow was also performed. In contrast to the results obtained from maternal bone marrow the changes in the cellular composition in fetal blood were only slight after treatment with mutagens. A significant and dose-dependent increase in the incidence of micronucleated fetal blood cells was found with all four mutagens. The inducibility of micronuclei by indirect mutagens was particularly interesting. The three mutagens other than mitomycin-C induced a higher frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in fetal blood cells than in maternal bone marrow. The results indicate that this modified micronucleus test is well suited and useful for mutagenicity screening of environmental chemicals and especially for assessment of risks to the fetus when pregnant females are exposed to environmental chemicals.

Animals↗

Mutagenicity studies with x-ray-contrast media, analgesics, antipyretics, antirheumatics and some other pharmaceutical drugs in bacterial, Drosophila and mammalian test systems.

As part of our investigation into mutagenic effects of environmental compounds, we studied 21 pharmaceuticals most frequently sold in West Germany: 6 X-ray-contrast media, 13 analgesics, antipyretics and antirheumatics, 1 central stimulant, and 1 antidepressant. They were studied in different bacterial, Drosophila and mammalian test systems. 4 of these 21 compounds could be detected as mutagens in one of the test systems. namely: 1,2-dichloroethane induced an increase in the frequency of recessive sex-linked lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster, quinine dihydrochloride and dimethylaminophenazone were mutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98 in the presence of S-9 liver fraction derived from Aroclor-induced rats, and trilithium citrate caused a significant effect in the micronucleus test on bone marrow of NMRI mice.

Analgesics↗

Ketogenesis and malonyl coenzyme A content of isolated rat hepatocytes.

We have measured rates of ketogenesis and malonyl-CoA contents of hepatocytes isolated from meal-fed rats under a variety of incubation conditions in order to determine the relationship between the intracellular malonyl-CoA level and the rate of ketogenesis. Evidence obtained from rat liver homogenates suggested that malonyl-CoA, which is a major determinant of fatty acid synthesis in vivo, also inhibits carnitine acyltransferase I (EC 2.3.1.21) and thereby decreases the rate of ketogenesis (McGarry, J.D., Mannaerts, G.P., and Foster, D.W. (1977) J. Clin. Invest. 60, 265-270). In hepatocytes from meal-fed rats, malonyl-CoA could be increased by glucose or lactate plus pyruvate and decreased by glucagon, oleic acid and the fatty acid synthesis inhibitor 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid. Malonyl-CoA varied from 14.8 +/- 1.2 to 1.4 +/- 0.1 nmol/g wet weight of cells. Rates of ketone body production varied from 0.10 +/- 0.01 to 0.96 +/- 0.06 mumol/min/g wet weight of cells and varied inversely with the malonyl-CoA content. Dixon plots and Cornish-Bowden plots of data suggest that malonyl-CoA is a competitive inhibitor of ketogenesis with a Ki of 2 nmol/g wet weight of cells. We conclude that in hepatocytes from meal-fed rats the cellular content of malonyl-CoA and the concentration of long chain fatty acid available to the cells are major determinants of the rate of ketogenesis.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

A rapid, enzymatic assay for the measurement of inorganic pyrophosphate in animal tissues.

A simple, rapid enzymatic assay for the determination of inorganic pyrophosphate in tissue and plasma has been developed using the enzyme pyrophosphate--fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.90) which was purified from extracts of Propionibacterium shermanii. The enzyme phosphorylates fructose-6-phosphate to produce fructose-1,6-bisphosphate using inorganic pyrophosphate as the phosphate donor. The utilization of inorganic pyrophosphate is measured by coupling the production of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate with the oxidation of NADH using fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13), triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1), and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD+)(EC 1.1.1.8). The assay is completed in less than 5 min and is not affected by any of the components of tissue or plasma extracts. The recovery of pyrophosphate added to frozen tissue powder was 97 +/- 1% (n = 4). In this assay the change in absorbance is linearly related to the concentration of inorganic pyrophosphate over the curvette concentration range of 0.1 microM to 0.1 mM.

Animals↗

Isolation and partial characterization of the cytochrome oxidase from Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

The cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) of Rhodopseudomonas palustris was extracted with Triton X-100 plus KCl, from the membrane fraction of cells grown aerobically in the dark. The solubilized enzyme was purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purification resulted in a 108-fold enrichment of cytochrome oxidase on the basis of specific activity when compared to the membrane fraction. The purified enzyme was phosphate-sensitive (less than mM), oxidized reduced bovine, horse and yeast cytochrome c, and was inhibited 50% by 0.5 muM KCN or 7 muM NaN3. The native purified preparation migrated as one band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the presence of dodecylsulfate four major polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 30500, 25500, 12200 and 9500 were observed. The enzyme reacted with oxygen via cytochrome o. The purified preparation contained cytochrome c but was free of flavoproteins and NADH-linked and succinate-linked enzyme activities of the respiratory chain.

Aerobiosis↗