Do induced sperm-head abnormalities in mice specifically identify mammalian mutagens rather than carcinogens?

The results of testing 54 compounds including 19 carcinogen/non-carcinogen pairs from a wide range of chemical classes are reported. Many carcinogens did not induce increases in abnormal sperm heads. In contrast compounds known to induce transmissible genetic damage in whole animals invariably induced dose-dependent large increases in the incidence of abnormal sperm heads. The test may be useful in assisting discrimination between compounds that only cause mutations in isolated cell systems from those which constitute a real genetic hazard for whole mammals.