Metabolic activation of promutagenic factors in synthetic indigo by mammalian microsomes.

The role of mammalian metabolizing enzymes in the bioactivation of promutagenic factors present in synthetic indigo has been studied in Salmonella typhimurium TA98. The activation process appears to be NADPH dependent and the enzymes involved are localized in the microsomes. Comparison of the three types of induction of rat liver homogenate showed that 3-methylcholanthrene is the most effective. Furthermore, this study revealed that 1,1'-azobis (N,N-dimethylformamide) not only oxidizes glutathione but also inhibits those microsomal enzymes that are involved in the bioactivation process.