Genotoxicity analysis of N,N-dimethylaniline and N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2850210406· OSTI ID:7198868

Taningher, M ^[1]; Bonatti, S ^[2]; Pasquini, R ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Genoa, Genova (Italy)
2. Istituto di Mutagenesi e Differenziamento del CNR, Pisa (Italy)
3. University Department of Hygiene, Perugia (Italy)

N,N-Dimethylaniline (DMA, CAS No. 121-69-7) and N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMPT, CAS No. 99-97-8) belong to the N-dialkylaminoaromatics, a chemical class structurally alerting to DNA reactivity. Their applications may be industrial (dye and pesticide intermediates, polymerizing agents) and surgical (polymerization accelerations for the manufacture of bone cements and prosthetic devices), thus implying heterogeneous types of human exposure. Findings of carcinogenicity in rodents and some nonexhaustive genotoxicity data are available for DMA, but no information is available on DMPT concerning either carcinogenicity or any kind of genetic toxicity. To investigate their mechanism of action and mutagenic/carcinogenic potential, DMA and DMPT were analyzed for complementary genotoxicity endpoints, namely, gene mutation in Salmonella (Ames test), structural and numerical chromosome aberrations in hamster V79 cells (micronucleus test, matched with an immunofluorescent staining for kinetochore proteins), and in vivo DNA damage in mouse and rat liver (alkaline DNA elution test). The results essentially indicate that both chemicals are chromosome damaging agents. Indeed, at the maximum nontoxic doses, they proved nonmutagenic in Salmonella (although their toxicity did not allow concentrations > 70 [mu]g/plate to be tested) and weakly positive in inducing DNA damage (increases in DNA elution rates at most [approximately]2.4 times control value). Conversely, they proved clearly positive in inducing numerical chromosome alterations, with dose-dependent increases up to more than five times the control value for DMPT. At the highest dose tested, both chemicals also showed a significant clastogenic effect. 28 refs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7198868
• Journal Information: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (United States), Vol. 21:4; ISSN 0893-6692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
TOXICITY
AMINES
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
INDUCTION
STRAND BREAKS
TOLUIDINES
AROMATICS
MUTATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550400 - Genetics