Use of the asparagine auxotroph of the L5178Y murine leukemia for the detection of chemical mutagens in vitro and in the host-mediated assay.

Identification of the human genetic health hazard from exposure to chemicals of a diverse nature is of significant importance from a public health standpoint. A wide variety of organisms ranging from phage to human cells in culture may be used as tester strains to identify the mutagenic capability of a chemical. While these systems do supply genetically useful information, their major limitation is their inability to consider host biotransformation and other pharmacokinetic parameters. This is of especial importance if the derived data is to have human relevance. While the most ideal situation would be to study man himself, the major limitation to this approach would be of a practical and ethical nature. Short of studying man, then, in vivo mammalian indicator cells would have some ob-