Genotoxicity studies OF p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB)

The potential genotoxicity of the rodent liver carcinogen p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) was evaluated in compliance with the guidelines for genotoxicity studies of drugs (Notification No. 1604, Nov. 1, 1999, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan) and the OECD guidelines for testing chemicals. DAB was clearly positive in both the bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) and in vitro chromosomal aberration test in the presence of metabolic activation, whereas it was weakly positive at toxic doses in the rat bone marrow micronucleus test. It has been reported that DAB was clearly positive in in vivo genotoxicity tests, i.e., a mouse alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay and a young rat liver micronucleus test. These results suggest that the test system using the liver is effective for in vivo genotoxicity assessment of chemicals that show mutagenicity in in vitro genotoxicity tests in the presence of metabolic activation.