Assessing the Impact of Different Solvents on Mutagenic Responses in the
Ames Test
Abstract
The Bacterial reverse mutation (AMES) assay is crucial for detecting the
mutagenic potential of chemicals using bacterial strains. The solubility
of the test substance is key to achieving the recommended concentration
for the assay. DMSO and water are typically preferred solvents due to
their compatibility and historical data. The chosen solvent must not
react with the test substance and must support bacterial survival and S9
activity. Selecting a solvent compatible with Salmonella
typhimurium and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA strains,
considering a maximum cytotoxic concentration of 5 mg/plate, is
challenging for genetic toxicologists. This study evaluated various
solvents, including N,N-Dimethyl formamide, Acetone, Acetonitrile, Ethyl
acetate, 95% Ethanol, Dimethylene Glycol Monomethyl ether, Methanol,
P-Dioxane, Tetrahydrofuran, and Dimethyl acetamide. Results showed that
all solvents, except Tetrahydrofuran, were compatible up to 100 µL/plate
or more, as they did not inhibit bacterial growth or alter bacterial
revertant colony counts, making them suitable for use in the Ames assay.