Chemical mutagenesis at the thymidine kinase locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells: results for 31 coded compounds in the National Toxicology Program.

Experimental data from the testing of 31 chemicals for mutagenicity at the TK locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells are presented and evaluated. If mutagenic activity was not obtained for the chemical added to suspension cultures for 4 hr, then the testing was repeated in the presence of hepatic S9 mix prepared from Aroclor 1254-induced male Fischer 344 rats. Multiple trials were performed for each chemical, and mutagenic treatments were analyzed for the induction of small and large mutant colony populations. Twelve chemicals were not detected as mutagenic, one (ascorbic acid) was questionable, and 18 were evaluated as mutagenic. These results were used in the evaluations presented by Tennant et al. [Science 236:933-941, 1987] in a critical comparison of four in vitro genotoxicity assays with rodent carcinogenicity results. The mouse lymphoma assay results were in general agreement with the carcinogenicity studies. Discordant evaluations with respect to carcinogenicity (four false negatives and six false positives) were discussed from the standpoint of how the predictive performance of the in vitro mutation assay might be improved.