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Urine mutagenicity and biochemical parameters as markers of exposure to petroleum pitch using a rat model
Author(s) -
Pasquini R.,
Monarca S.,
Sforzolini G. Scassellati,
Savino A.,
Fatigoni C.,
Puccetti P.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850150108
Subject(s) - genotoxicity , chemistry , urine , glutathione , urinary system , enzyme inducer , pharmacology , in vivo , excretion , chromatography , enzyme , biochemistry , toxicity , endocrinology , biology , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
A petroleum pitch sample collected in a carbon electrode factory was studied using a series of in vivo assays for genotoxicity and enzymatic induction capability. Rats were treated with the petroleum derivative in three doses: 100, 50, and 10 mg/kg body weight. The treatment produced a rapid excretion of mutagenic substances in the urines of the first 24 hr only in rats treated with high doses (100 and 50 mg/kg). No faecal mutagenic activity was observed. Analyses of urinary thioethers showed that urinary metabolites derived from the compounds present in the pitchsample at the lowest doseadministered (10 mg/kg) were eliminated primarily as cysteine conjugates. The pitch sample was found to be a good inducer of pulmonary and hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, especially after a 50 mg/kg dose. Urinary D‐glucaric acid content was always statistically increased in treated animals compared with controls, confirming the enzymatic induction activity. Hepatic glutathione‐S‐transferase activity increased following treatment with 50 and 10 mg/kg doses.