MUTAGENICITY OF AH26 IN AN IN-VITRO MAMMALIAN-CELL MUTATION ASSAY

The mutagenic activity of the root canal sealer AH26 was tested in the V79/hprt mammalian cell mutation assay, AH26 was mixed and eluted imm ediately after mixing or after setting times of 24 h or 7 days, Differ ent amounts of dimethyl sulfoxide or physiological saline eluates were then tested for mutagenicity, Eluates of mixed AH26 were toxic and mu tagenic, and both effects strongly depended on the setting time, The n umber of mutants after exposure to eluates of unset AH26 was enhanced similar to 7- to 10-fold. However, the mutagenic activity of the mixed material was clearly reduced after a setting time of 1 wk, Physiologi cal saline eluates of the mixed AH26 were toxic at higher doses, but w ere not found to be mutagenic, Dimethyl sulfoxide eluates of the liqui d component of AH26 elicited mutagenic effects similar to the freshly mixed material; eluates made in physiological saline were barely mutag enic at a 10-fold higher concentration, In accordance with recommendat ions of international guidelines, the V79/hprt mammalian cell mutation assay will be routinely used for the evaluation of the mutagenicity o f dental materials in further investigations.