A. Hilali et al., EFFECT OF AGE ON THE ABILITY OF RAT-LIVER TISSUES TO TRANSFORM CHEMICAL PROMUTAGENS TO MUTAGENS, Gerontology, 39(3), 1993, pp. 125-127
Age-related changes in drug metabolism of the liver from male Lou rats
were determined by measuring changes in the production of mutagens. A
ctivation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) and benzo[a]
pyrene (B[a]P) to mutagenic derivatives was assayed using the Ames sal
monella test system. The promutagens were incubated with tissue fracti
ons isolated from rats ranging in age from 3 weeks to 18 months. Hepat
ic activation of AFB1 and 2AA changes with age and is maximal from 4 t
o 10 months. In contrast, no significant modification with age was obs
erved for the activation of B[a]P. It is concluded that the compositio
n of different cytochrome P-450 fractions is modified with age thereby
altering the specific ability to convert different promutagens to mut
agens.