Rec-assay of human bile for mutagenicity and co-mutagenicity

Co-mutagenicity of glyco- and tauro-deoxycholic acids in the Ames test

Mutagenicity and co-mutagenicity of glyco- and tauro-deoxycholic acids (GDCA and TDCA), which are abundant in human bile, were examined by the Ames test. The two chemicals were not mutagenic for themselves to Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100, with and without S9 mix. They enhanced, however, the mutagenic activities of the pro-mutagens, 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), for both TA98 and TA100 with S9 mix. They were more co-mutagenic for the pro-mutagens on TA98 than on TA100. On TA98, the mutagenic activities of 2AA with GDCA (5 mumol/plate) and with TDCA (5 mumol/plate) were 9.7-fold and 11.8-fold as high as that of the corresponding control (2AA only), respectively. BaP with GDCA (2.5 mumol/plate) and with TDCA (2.5 mumol/plate) showed 2.8-fold and 3.0-fold increases over the corresponding control level (BaP only), respectively. It is hence concluded that GDCA and TDCA may enhance the activity of some mutagens existing in bile.

Geographical variations in mutagenicity of blue rayon extracts of Japanese human bile

The mutagenicity of human bile was investigated in the Ames test after blue rayon treatment. In the present study, 52 and 59 bile samples were collected from the high and the low risk population for gallbladder cancer (GBC), respectively. The bile mutagenicity was detected only when the blue rayon extracts of bile were assayed with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of S9 mix. Thirty-two (61.5%) of 52 samples obtained from the high risk population were mutagenic. In our previous study (Mano et al., 1993), the mutagenicity was observed in 14 (58.3%) of 24 samples. After combining this data with the results of the present study, 46 (60.5%) of 76 samples revealed the mutagenicity. On the other hand, the mutagenicity was detected in only 7 (11.9%) of 59 samples collected from the low risk population. Therefore, we found a significant geographical difference in the bile mutagenicity.

Mutagenicity of blue rayon extracts of human bile in the Ames test

The mutagenicity of human bile was examined in the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. Bile samples were obtained from the gallbladders resected from patients with cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, gallbladder cancer, extrahepatic bile duct cancer and other diseases. For extraction of mutagenic components, the bile samples were treated with blue rayon and the adsorbed materials were assayed with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of S9 mix. Twenty-four bile samples were tested and positive mutagenic activity was found in 14 samples. A 200-microliter bile equivalent material gave 6.3 times as many revertant colonies as the solvent control. With several samples that had undergone two cycles of blue rayon extraction, clear dose-response relationships in mutagenicity were demonstrated.