The effect of solvents upon the yield of revertants in the Salmonella/activation mutagenicity assay.

The effects of dimethylsulphoxide and acetone have been investigated in the Salmonella/activation mutagenicity assay using 2-aminoanthracene and benzo(a)pyrene as test compounds. Varying mutagenic responses were found with the solvents mutagenic responses were found with the solvents after treatment of the bacteria with 2-aminoanthracene. This was observed in two laboratories. Differences were not as evident after treatment with benzo(a)pyrene. In addition, different amounts of dimethylsulphoxide were used to dissolve amounts of dimethylsulphoxide were used to dissolve 2-aminoanthracene and varying mutagenic responses were obtained. These observations suggest that the choice and amount of solvent for individual test compounds may be critical in terms of determining a mutagenic response.