The genotoxic potency of mototcycle exhaust particles (MEP) were investigated
by use of bacterial reversion assay, chromosome aberration and micronucleus test in
this study. In bacterial reversion assay (Ames test), MEP dose dependently increase
TA98, TA100 and TA102 revertants in the presence of metabolic activating enzymes.
In chromosome aberration test, MEP dose dependently increased abnormal structure
chromosomes in CHO-K1 cells both with and without S-9. Pretreatment with
antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, catalase and NAC) shown varying degrees of
inhibitory effects in MEP induced mutagenic effect and chromosomes structure
abnormality. In vivo micronucleus test, MEP dose-dependently induced micronucli
formation in peripheral red blood cells 24h and 48h after treatment. Intraperitoneal
injection of vitamin E and vitamin C can significantly inhibited MEP induced clastogen
in mice. The fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA loaded CHO-K1 cells were induced
upon addition of MEP. Our data suggested MEP can induce genotoxicity through ROS
dependent pathway, which could be augmented by metabolic activation. Vitamin E,
vitamin C, catalase and NAC can inhibited MEP induced genotoxicity indicated ROS
might be involved in this effect
