Damage to mammalian cell DNA by nitrofurans.

Maximum rates of nitrofuran reduction by intact mammalian cells and homogenates of mouse liver are obtained under anaerobic conditions, although significant reduction does occur with gas mixtures containing 5% oxygen and less. Single-strand breaks in DNA, measured as a decrease in the sedimentation constant on alkaline sucrose gradients, are produced in mammalian L929, KB, AND BHK-21 cells in vitro and Ehrlich ascites cells in vivo by several nitrofuran derivatives under hypoxic conditons.