Skip to main content
Log in

Lack of enhancement of chemical mutagenesis by saccharin in the Salmonella assay

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Archives of Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A purified batch of the artificial sweetener saccharin (S-1022) was assayed for mutagenicity and comutagenicity by the Ames Salmonella assay system. Saccharin was not mutagenic and failed to enhance the mutagenic activity induced by a wide variety of known mutagens. These results do not argue against the tumor-promoter-like activity of saccharin but only indicate that the Ames Salmonella assay is not capable of detecting saccharin as a promoter of mutagenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Ames, B. N., McCann, J., Yamasaki, E.: Methods for detecting carcinogens and mutagens with Salmonella/mammalian-microsome mutagenicity test. Mutat. Res. 31, 347–364 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashby, J., Styles, J. A., Anderson, D., Paton, D.: Saccharin, an epigenetic carcinogen/mutagen? Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 16, 95–103 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Batzinger, R. P., Ou, S-Y. L., Bueding, E.: Saccharin and other sweeteners: Mutagenic properties. Science 198, 944–946 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. M., Arai, M., Friedell, G. H.: Promoting effect of DL-Tryptophan and saccharin in urinary bladder carcinogenesis in the rat. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. Abstr. 15 (1978)

  • Hicks, R. M., Wakefield, J. St. J., Chowaniec, J.: Co-carcinogenic action of saccharin in the chemical induction of bladder cancer. Nature 243, 347–349 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, R. M., Wakefield, J. St. J., Chowaniec, J.: Evaluation of a new model to detect bladder carcinogens or co-carcinogens; Results obtained with saccharin, cyclamate and cyclophosphamide. Chem. Biol. Interact. 11, 225–233 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramers, P. G. N.: The mutagenicity of saccharin. Mutat. Res. 32, 81–92 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsumato, T., Yoshida, D., Mizusaki, S.: Enhancing effect of harman on mutagenicity in Salmonella. Mutat. Res. 56, 85–88 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mondal, S., Brankow, D. W., Heidelberger, C.: Enhancement of oncogenesis in C3H/10T1/2, mouse embryo cell cultures by saccharin. Science 201, 1141–1142 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, D.C.: Cancer Testing Technology and Saccharin. Report OTA-H-55, October 1977

  • Rao, T. K., Hardigree, A. A., Young, J. A., Lijinsky, W., Epler, J. L.: Mutagenicity of N-nitrosopiperidines with Salmonella typhimurium/microsomal activation system. Mutat. Res. 56, 131–145 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, T. K., Young, J. A., Weeks, C. E., Slaga, T. J., Epler, J. L.: Effect of the co-carcinogen benzo(e)pyrene on microsome-mediated chemical mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium. Environ. Mutagenesis (in press, 1979)

  • Stoltz, D. R., Stavric, B., Klassen, R., Bendall, R. D., Craig, J.: The mutagenicity of saccharin impurities. 1. Detection of mutagenic activity. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. 1, 139–146 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugimura, T., Kawachi, T., Matsushima, T., Nagao, M., Sato, S., Yahagi, T.: A critical review of submammalian systems for mutagen detection. In: Progress in genetic toxicology (D. Scott, B. A. Bridges, F. H. Sobels, eds.), pp. 126–154. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Duuren, B. L., Goldschmidt, B. M.: Co-carcinogenic and tumor-promoting agents in tobacco carcinogenesis. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 56, 1237–1242 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Research jointly sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (IAG-D5-E681; Interagency Agreement 40-516-75) and the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract W-7405-eng-26 with the Union Carbide Corporation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rao, T.K., Stoltz, D.R. & Epler, J.L. Lack of enhancement of chemical mutagenesis by saccharin in the Salmonella assay. Arch Toxicol 43, 141–145 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333621

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333621

Key words

Navigation