[Metabolic activation systems used in short-term tests for the detection of environmental carcinogens]

The recent data on metabolic activation of carcinogens are presented. Molecular mechanisms of activation, induction methods for systems providing biotransformation of xenobiotics as well as the comparative analysis of these systems (host, cell and cell free) are characterized from the standpoint of their use in short-term tests. The prospects of application of various metabolic activation systems are shown.