Some substrates and inhibitors of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase induce sister-chromatid exchanges in mammalian cells, but do not induce gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and V79 cells.

Abstract Trans -stilbene oxide, trans -β-methylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans -β-ethylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans -β-propylstyrene 7,8-oxide and 4-fluorochalcone oxide were investigated for genotoxic activity in bacterial and mammalian cells, in the absence of external xenobiotic-metabolising systems. All compounds strongly enhanced the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured human lymphocytes. None of them was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium (reversion of the his − strains TA98, TA100 and TA104). The limit of detection was 1 20,000 to 1 10 6 of the activity of the positive control, benzo[ a ]pyrene 4,5-oxide, depending on the compound and the bacterial strain. Trans -β-methy…