Metabolizing activities of postmitochondrial liver fractions (S-9) on benzo[a]pyrene and dimethylnitrosamine

The mutagenic activity of the carcinogens benz[a]pyrene and dimethylinitrosamine after being metabolised by postmitochondrial liver fractions (S-9) from rats, Syrian hamsters and rabbits was estimated in the Ames' test. The liver donors were pretreated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, PCB (Delor 106) or peanut oil. Parallel to the mutagenicity tests, enzymes of S-9 such as dimethylnitrosamine demethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were estimated and their activity evaluated with reference to the results of the Ames' test.