Different levels of Schistosomu mansoni infection increased the mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrene, the activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and the formation of hepatic microsomal hydrogen peroxide

The present study investigates the influence of different levels of Schistosoma mansoni infection (60, 120, 180, 300, 600 cercariae per mice) after 33 days on the activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and the formation of hepatic hydrogen per-oxide (H2O2) during the metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)p]. Also. it shows the mutagenic effect of B(a)p at different levels of S. mansoni infection using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 102 as a tester strains. High levels of H2O2 production (222 nmol,mg protein) and AHH activity (240 pmol 3-OH B(a)p per mg protein) were seen at 300 cercariae per mice. Increasing histidine revertant colonies at TA98 and TA102 were detected at different levels of S. mansoni infection. These data clearly demonstrate that S. mansoni infection changes the mutagenicity of B(a)p, AHH activity, as well as enhancing the formation of hepatic H2O2 generated during the metabolic activation of B(a)p in infected mice. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights: reserved.