1,3-Butadiene and its epoxides induce sister-chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes in vitro
Sasiadek, M.; Norppa, H.; Sorsa, M.
Mutation Research 261(2): 117-121
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-5107 PMID: 1922154 Document Number: 372971
Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were induced in human lymphocytes by 1,3-butadiene and its epoxides 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane. After a pulse treatment of 2 h, 1,3-butadiene produced a weak but reproducible increase in SCEs both with and without S9 mix. The response was similar in cultures of whole blood and of isolated lymphocytes. The 2 epoxide metabolites of butadiene, studied in whole-blood lymphocyte cultures without exogenous metabolic activation, were highly active SCE inducers. The lowest effective concentrations of butadiene, monoepoxybutene, and diepoxybutane were 200 .mu.M, 25 .mu.M and 0.5 .mu.M, respectively. A slight but dose-dependent increase in SCEs was also observed without an exogenous metabolic system after a 48-h treatment with 1,3-butadiene. Already the lowest concentration tested (500 .mu.M) was effective. Again, the response was similar in cultures of whole blood and isolated lymphocytes, suggesting that the lymphocytes are capable of metabolically activating 1,3-butadiene.