Enhancement of mutagenesis during cell replication of cultured liver epithelial cells.

The susceptibility to mutagenesis of proliferating and non-proliferating mammalian cells was studied in cultured rat liver epithelial cells. Cells brought to growth quiescence by a non-toxic means were stimulated to proliferate and both types of cultures were exposed to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Cultures enriched in proliferating cells were more susceptible to both the toxic and mutagenic action of the mutagen than were quiescent cultures with a low level of proliferation.