Mutagenic activity of isoniazid in the mouse.

Isoniazid was tested for genetic activity in the mammalian spot test by treating in utero mouse embryos, derived from the crosses C57 B1/6J X T-stock and NMRI X DBA/2, heterozygous for various loci affecting coat color. Induction of genetic changes is seen by expression of recessive alleles in colored spots within the fur of the adult animal in a non-agouti background. Injecting mothers with isoniazid (100 mg/kg ip), an expression of recessive loci was found in 7.41% of the F1 animals in the cross C57 B1/6J X T-stock, while in the NMRI X DBA/2 cross 2.92% animals with recessive spots were detected. The control frequencies were respectively 0 and 0.78% animals with recessive spots. The positive control substance, ethyl methanesulfonate (100 mg/kg ip), yielded 5.97% and 4.71% animals carrying a recessive spot in the fur, respectively. These studies clearly demonstrate for the first time the induction of genetic damage other than cytological damage in somatic cells of mice by isoniazid.