Comparative mutagenicity of hydrazine and 3 methylated derivatives in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells

The mutagenicity of hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine (MMH), 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH) in L5178Y mouse-lymphoma cells has been investigated. Hydrazine, UDMH and SDMH induced thymidine mutation, in the absence of extraneous metabolic activation. Dose-response curves were produced for these compounds. MMH did not induce thymidine mutation. All 4 compounds were negative in the ouabain, thioguanine and cytosine arabinoside selective systems. Induction of mutation by hydrazine and UDMH is correlated with toxicity. This is not the case for SDMH-induced mutation. Hydrazine, UDMH and SDMH produce different ratios of large and small thymidine-resistant clones. The compounds appear to have different modes of action in the cell.