@phdthesis{Kalb2005, author = {Kalb, Stefanie}, title = {Wilhelm Neumann (1898 - 1965) - Leben und Werk unter besonderer Ber{\"u}cksichtigung seiner Rolle in der Kampfstoff-Forschung}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-16124}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Gegenstand der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist das Leben und Werk des deutschen Pharmakologen und Toxikologen Wilhelm Neumann (11. Februar 1898 - 15. April 1965). Wesentliche Erkenntnisse hierzu konnten aus Aktenbest{\"a}nden des Bundesarchivs der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Berlin-Lichterfelde, Freiburg im Breisgau, und Koblenz, des Dekanatsarchiv der Medizinischen Fakult{\"a}t der Bayerischen Julius-Maximilians-Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg, des Archivs der „Deutschen Gesellschaft f{\"u}r experimentelle und klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie" in Mainz, des Scheringianums, dem Archiv der Schering AG in Berlin, des Staatsarchivs W{\"u}rzburg und des Universit{\"a}tsarchivs der Bayerischen Julius-Maximilians-Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg gewonnen werden. Von 1919 bis 1923 studierte Wilhelm Neumann in Berlin Chemie und promovierte in der chemischen Abteilung des Preußischen Instituts f{\"u}r Infektionskrankheiten „Robert Koch" zum Dr. phil. Im Jahr 1924 trat er eine Stelle als Privatassistent am Pharmakologischen Institut der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg unter der Leitung Ferdinand Flurys an. Parallel zu seiner Arbeit am Pharmakologischen Institut studierte er von 1929 bis 1934 an der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg Humanmedizin und promovierte zum Dr. med. 1937 folgte seine Habilitation und die Ernennung zum Dozenten. Weitere Stationen seiner wissenschaftlichen Laufbahn am Pharmakologischen Institut waren die Ernennungen zum planm{\"a}ßigen Assistenten 1939, zum Konservator 1941 und zum außerplanm{\"a}ßigen Professor 1942. Im Jahr 1937 nahm Wilhelm Neumann als Arzt der Reserve seine milit{\"a}rische Karriere im Sanit{\"a}tsdienst der Wehrmacht auf. W{\"a}hrend des Zweiten Weltkrieges war er als „beratender Arzt" und als Wissenschaftler f{\"u}r die Wehrmacht t{\"a}tig. Neumanns politischer Werdegang begann im Juli 1933 mit seinem Beitritt zur Veteranenorganisation Stahlhelm. Im Februar 1934 wurde er Mitglied der SA, und ab dem 1. Mai 1937 geh{\"o}rte er der NSDAP an. Nach Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges wurde Neumann im Zuge des Entnazifizierungsprozesses 1946 aus dem Staatsdienst entlassen. Das 1947 ergangene Spruchkammerurteil reihte ihn in die Gruppe der „Mitl{\"a}ufer" ein. Infolgedessen konnte er 1948 wieder von der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg eingestellt werden. Im Jahr 1949 wurde er dort zum ordentlichen Professor f{\"u}r Pharmakologie und Toxikologie berufen. Von 1954 bis 1955 {\"u}bte er das Amt des Dekans der Medizinischen Fakult{\"a}t der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg aus. Am Pharmakologischen Institut der Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg untersuchte Neumann zun{\"a}chst die Chemie und Pharmakologie der herzwirksamen Glykoside. Ihm gelang auf diesem Gebiet die Reindarstellung eines neuen Wirkstoffs, der 1935 von der Firma Schering im Herzinsuffizienztherapeutikum Folinerin auf den Markt gebracht wurde. Auf toxikologischem Gebiet arbeitete er von 1925 bis 1945 mit Ferdinand Flury an gewerbetoxikologischen Projekten und in der chemischen Kampfstoff-Forschung. Als ordentlicher Professor widmete sich Wilhelm Neumann dann neben eigenen toxikologischen Arbeiten der F{\"o}rderung der Toxikologie als Fachrichtung. Zu Beginn der 1950er Jahre befasste er sich mit tierischen Giften und erforschte die Toxikologie der Reizgase und der Luftverschmutzung. Von 1955 bis 1965 war Wilhelm Neumann Vorsitzender der DFG-Kommission zur Pr{\"u}fung gesundheitssch{\"a}dlicher Arbeitsstoffe.}, language = {de} } @article{LutzDeuberCaviezeletal.1988, author = {Lutz, Werner K. and Deuber, R. and Caviezel, M. and Sagelsdorff, P. and Friederich, U. and Schlatter, C.}, title = {Trenbolone growth promotant: covalent DNA binding in rat liver and in Salmonella typhimurium, and mutagenicity in the Ames test}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60897}, year = {1988}, abstract = {DNA binding in vivo: (6,7-\(^3\)H]ß-trenbolone (ß-TBOH) was administered p.o. and i.p. to rats. After 8 or 16 h, DNA was isolated from the livers and purified to constant specific radioactivity. Enzymatic digestion to deoxyribonucleotides and separation by HPLC revealed about 90\% ofthe DNA radioactivity eluting in the form of possible TBOH-nucleotide adducts. The extent of this genotoxicity, expressed in units of the Covalent Binding Index, CBI = (~mol TBOH bound per mol nucleotide)/(mmol TBOH administered per kg body weight) spanned from 8 t~ 17, i. e. was in the range found with weak genotoxic carcmogens. Ames test: low doses of ß-TBOH increased the number of revertants in Salmonella strain TAl 00 reproducibly and m a dose-dependent manner. The mutagenic potency was 0.2 revertants per nmol after preincubation of the bacteria (20 min at 37° C) with doses between 30 and 60 \(\mu\)g per plate (47 and 94 \(\mu\)g/ml preincubation mixture). Above this dose, the number of revertants decreased to control values, accompanied by a reduction in survival. The addition of rat liver S9 inhibited the mutagenicity. DNA binding in vitro: calf thymus DNA was incubated with tritiated ß-TBOH with and without rat liver S9 Highest DNA radioactivities were determined in the absence of the "activation" system. Addition of inactive S9 (without cofactors) reduced the DNA binding by a factor of up to 20. Intermediate results were found with active S9. DNA binding in Salmonella: ß-TBOH was irreversibly bound to DNA isolated from S. typhimurium TA100 after incubation of bacteria with [\(^3\)H]ß-TBOH. Conclusions: Covalent DNA binding appears to be the mechanism of an activation-independent ("direct") mutagenicity of TBOH which is not easily detected because of the bactericidal activity. The genotoxicity risk arising from exposure of humans to trenbolone residues in meat was estimated using the in vivo data and compared to that from the exposure to unavoidable genotoxins aflatoxin B1 and dimethylnitrosamine. It ts concluded that trenbolone residues represent only a low genotoxic risk.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Troesken2005, author = {Tr{\"o}sken, Eva-Regina}, title = {Toxicological evaluation of azole fungicides in agriculture and food chemistry}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-17016}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Azole sind wichtige Chemikalien, die als Fungizide in der Landwirtschaft und der Medizin eingesetzt werden. Auch als Zytostatika in der Humanmedizin finden sie Anwendung. Die fungizide Wirkung beruht auf der Hemmung der Lanosterol-14\&\#945;-Demethylase (CYP51), die die Demethylierung von Lanosterol zum „Follicular Fluid Meiosis Activating Steroid (FF-MAS)" katalysiert. F{\"u}r Pilze ist das sp{\"a}ter resultierende Ergosterol ein essentieller Bestandteil der Zellmembran. Exponierten Pilzen fehlt Ergosterol was zu einem Zusammenbruch der Zellmembran f{\"u}hrt. S{\"a}ugetiere k{\"o}nnen Cholesterol, das sp{\"a}tere Produkt der Lanosterol-14\&\#945;-Demethylierung, das zur Synthese von z.B. Gallens{\"a}uren und Sexualhormonen n{\"o}tig ist, mit der Nahrung aufnehmen. FF-MAS und das resultierende T-MAS (Testis Meiosis Activating Steroids), die direkten Produkte der CYP51 katalysierten Reaktion, wirken als Meiose-aktivierende Steroide auf Ovarien und Hoden und werden nicht mit der Nahrung aufgenommen. Eine Hemmung der CYP51 Aktivit{\"a}t k{\"o}nnte das endokrine System beeinflussen und wird daher als unerw{\"u}nschte Nebenwirkung der Azole betrachtet. Aromatase (CYP19) katalysiert die Demethylierung von Testosteron zu {\"O}stradiol und wird durch Azole gehemmt. Die Verringerung der {\"O}strogenspiegel durch CYP19-Inhibition ist das Wirkprinzip der als Zytostatika genutzten Azole, bei den Fungiziden wird es als unerw{\"u}nschte Nebenwirkung angesehen. Ein ideales Azol sollte Pilz-CYP51 stark inhibieren, aber sowohl humanes CYP19 wie auch humanes CYP51 sollten durch ein solches Azol nicht inhibiert werden. Ein ideales Azol-Zytostatikum sollte eine starke inhibitorische Potenz gegen{\"u}ber humanem CYP19 aufweisen, hingegen sollten humanes und Pilz-CYP51 nicht inhibiert werden. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es nun festzustellen: sind Fungizide und Antimykotika starke Inhibitoren von Pilz-CYP51? Zeigen Fungizide und Antimykotika keine Aktivit{\"a}t gegen{\"u}ber humanem CYP19 und humanem CYP51? Sind Zytostatika starke Inhibitoren von humanem CYP19? Zeigen Zytostatika keine Aktivit{\"a}t gegen{\"u}ber humanem CYP51 und Pilz-CYP51? Die inhibitorische Potenz von 22 Azolen, aus den drei Anwendungsgebieten, wurden an vier Systemen getestet: i) an humanem CYP19 und einem fluoreszierenden Pseudosubstrat, ii) an CYP19 und Testosteron als Substrat, iii) an humanem CYP51 und iv) Candida albicans CYP51 und Lanosterol als Substrat. Die Produktbildung wurde mittels Hochdruckfl{\"u}ssigkeitschromatographie gekoppelter Tandem-Massenspektrometrie nach Photosprayionisation gemessen. Das humane CYP51 wurde von „BD Gentest Cooperation" zur Verf{\"u}gung gestellt. Ein katalytisch aktiver Enzymkomplex bestehend aus der Lanosterol-14\&\#945;-Demethylase von Candida albicans und der Oxidoreduktase von Candida tropicalis, wurde im Baculovirussystem exprimiert. Ein Vergleich der inhibitorischen Wirkst{\"a}rke der Substanzen auf menschliches CYP19 und CYP51 und Pilz-CYP51 zeigt, dass einige Azole das erw{\"u}nschte Bild zeigen. Dazu geh{\"o}ren die beiden Zytostatika Fadrozol und Letrozol, sowie Fluconazol und Itraconazol, zwei Antimykotika aus der Humanmedizin, und einige Fungizide z.B. Cyproconazol und Hexaconazol. Ein unerw{\"u}nschtes Bild zeigen z.B. Prochloraz, Bifonazol, Ketoconazol und Miconazol. Sieben Azole weisen ein gemischtes Bild an inhibitorischen Wirkst{\"a}rken auf. Um einen modellartigen Eindruck der R{\"u}ckst{\"a}nde von Azolen in Lebensmitteln zu erhalten, wurde eine auf LC-ESI-MS/MS basierende R{\"u}ckstandsanalytik f{\"u}r Azole im Wein entwickelt. Alle gefunden R{\"u}ckst{\"a}nde lagen unterhalb der beh{\"o}rdlich festgelegten R{\"u}ckstandsh{\"o}chstmengen. Um die inhibitorische Wirkung der Azole auf die verschiedenen Enzymsysteme in einem gr{\"o}ßeren Zusammenhang zu bringen, wurden die IC50 Werte mit Expositionsdaten von Bauern, maximalen Plasmaspiegeln in Patienten nach der Einnahme von Antimykotika und mit Expositionsgrenzwerten f{\"u}r die Langzeitaufnahme von Pflanzenschutzmittelr{\"u}ckst{\"a}nden („Acceptable Daily Intake Levels", ADI) verglichen. Basierend auf den dargestellten Ergebnissen k{\"o}nnen folgende Schlussfolgerungen gezogen werden. Das Risiko f{\"u}r landwirtschaftliche Arbeiter durch Exposition gegen{\"u}ber Azolfungiziden kann im Bezug auf menschliches CYP19 und CYP51 als vernachl{\"a}ssigbar eingestuft werden, wenn die entsprechenden Sicherheitsvorkehrungen getroffen werden. Im medizinischen Bereich muss grunds{\"a}tzlich der Einsatz von Bifonazol, Miconazol und Ketoconazol mit Blick auf die hohe inhibitorische Potenz gegen{\"u}ber menschlichem CYP19 und 51 kritisch betrachtet werden. Unter der Annahme, dass die ADI Werte eingehalten werden, stellen R{\"u}ckst{\"a}nde auf Lebensmitteln in Bezug auf die genannten Enzymsysteme keine Bedrohung f{\"u}r den Verbraucher da. Die Inhibition von CYP19 muss als St{\"o}rung des Hormonsystems angesehen werden. Die Bedeutung von FF-MAS und T-MAS im endokrinen System muss noch abschließend gekl{\"a}rt werden und damit auch die Frage, wie viel Bedeutung der Inhibition von menschlichem CYP51 beigemessen werden muss.}, subject = {Azole}, language = {en} } @article{VivianiLutzSchlatter1978, author = {Viviani, A. and Lutz, Werner K. and Schlatter, C.}, title = {Time course of the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in rat liver nuclei and microsomes by phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin, dieldrin and other inducers}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61182}, year = {1978}, abstract = {Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) has been measured in male rat Jiver nucJei and microsomes after treatment of adult animals with various inducers for up to 14 days. After daily i.p. injections of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC, 20 mg/kg) the nuclear activity increased to a maximum of 600 per cent of the control activity after 4 days whereas the microsomal activity was 400 per cent of control at the same date. After 12 days, both activities equilibrated at 400 per cent. A similar time course was found after a single i.p. injection of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, 0.01 mg/kg) with an induction to .500 and 300 per cent for nuclei and microsomes, respectiveJy. after 2 days, and to 400 per cent for both after 12 days. PhenobarbitaJ (PB) was given continuously in the drinking water (I g/1) and induced the microsomal activity to 200 per cent after 8 days and 170 per cent after 14 days. The nuclear activity was only slightly induced to a constant Ievei of 130 per cent between day 8 and 14. Dieldrin did not significantly increase the microsomal activity after daiJy i.p. injections (20 mg/kg), but the nuclear activity raised to 200 per cent after 3 days and levelled down tocontrol valuesafter 12 days. Other inducers tested were benz[a)anthracene (BA), hexachlorobenzene (HCB} and 1,1.1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). The induction pattern with BA was similar tothat of MC, a modeJ compound for the group of cytochrome P448 inducers. The induction by HCB and DDT resembled that by PB. a typical cytochrome P450 inducer.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @article{SagelsdorffLutzSchlatter1983, author = {Sagelsdorff, P. and Lutz, Werner K. and Schlatter, C.}, title = {The relevance of covalent binding to mouse liver DNA to the carcinogenic action of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61039}, year = {1983}, abstract = {[\(^3\)H]Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was synthesized by chlorination of [\(^3\)H]benzene prepared by catalytic tritiation of benzene with tritiated water. The isomers of HCH were separated by adsorption chromatography on silica gel. In order to determine the covalent binding to DNA, [\(^3\)H]HCH was administered to male mice by oral gavage, and liver DNA was isolated via cbromatin. The specific radioactivity of the DNA was nonnalized by the dose administered and expressed in the molar units of the Covalent binding index, CBI = DNA damage/dose = (\(\mu\)mol bound HCH/mol DNA nucleotide)/(mmol HCH administered/kg body weight). CBI values of - 0.2 were found 10 h after the administration of alpha- and gamma-HCH. Enzymatic digestion of the DNA to the nucleosides and h.p.l.c. analysis revealed that - 40\% of the radioactivity co-migrated with the natural nucleosides. At elution volumes known to contain the more lipophilic carcinogen-nucleoside adducts, - 10\% of the radioactivity could be detected. The remaining 50\% of th,e radioactivity eluted with the front, representing a mixture of oligonucleotide- HCH adducts and/or hydrophilic degradation products which were strongly bot not covalently associated with intact DNA. Therefore, a true CBI of 0.02-0.1 must be expected both for alpha- and gamma-HCH. This CBI is by a factor of 10\(^5\) -10\(^6\) below the value found with the strongest DNAbinding carcinogens like aflatoxin B1 or dimethylnitrosamine and is unlikely to be decisive for the liver tumor induction in mice because of the foUowing additional findings: (i) both isomers gave rise to similar Ievels of DNA darnage although the alpha-isomer is a much morepotent tumor inducer. This similarity was seen not only at the time of m{\"a}ximum binding but up to 10 days after oral administration; (ii) three mouse strains with apparently different susceptibility to tumor induction by gamma-HCH could not be distinguished with respect to DNA binding; (iii) the level of DNA binding of alpha-HCH (CBI = 0.02-0.1) is more than three orders of magnitude lower than would be expected if the mechanism of tumor induction was by genotoxicity mediated by DNAbinding. For a preliminary investigation on a potential stimulatory effect on liver DN A replication and ceU division, [\(^{14}\)]thymidine was admlnistered i.p. 3.5 h before sacrifice of the [\(^3\)H]HCH-treated mice. The alpha-isomer was found to be more potent than the gamma-isomer in this respect. Taken together, our data allow the conclusion that the non- mutational processes must be more important for the carcinogenicity of HCH.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @article{LutzPoetzschSchlatteretal.1991, author = {Lutz, Werner K. and Poetzsch, J. and Schlatter, J. and Schlatter, C.}, title = {The real role of risk assessment in cancer risk management}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60730}, year = {1991}, abstract = {Rtgulatory aclio11s Iaken to reduu tht risk of harmfultffects of exposure to chemieals ofltn arenot commensurDtt with the toxicologicDf risk SJsstS\&ment. A numbtr of factors relating to psychology, sociology, economics Dntl politics rather than science and medicine afftct tht final decision. Wemer Lutz and colleagues illustratt the situation using tht feuktmia-indudng chtmiCJJI benzene as an examplt.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @article{ShephardLutzSchlatter1994, author = {Shephard, S. E. and Lutz, Werner K. and Schlatter, C.}, title = {The lacI transgenic mouse mutagenicity assay: quantitative evaluation in comparison to tests for carcinogenicity and cytogenetic damage in vivo}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60638}, year = {1994}, abstract = {The detection Iimit of the lacl transgenic mouse mutagenicity assay lies, in practice, at approximately a 50-100\% increase in mutant frequency in treated animals over controls. The sensitivity of this assay in detecting genotoxins can be markedly improved by subchronic rather than acute application of the test compound. The lac/ transgenic mouse mutagenicity assay was compared quantitatively to rodent carcinogenicity tests and to presently used in vivo mutagenicity assays. With the genotoxic carcinogens tested thus far, a rough correlation between mutagenic potency and carcinogenic potency was observed: on average, to obtain a doubling in lacl mutant frequency the mice bad to be treated with a total dose equal to 50 times the TD50 daily dose Ievel. This total dose could be administered eilher at a high dose rate within a few days or, preferably, at a low dose rate over several weeks. This analysis also indicated that a lacl experiment using a 250-day exposure period would give a detection Iimit approximately equal to that of a long-term carcinogenicity study. In comparison to the micronucleus test or the chromosome aberration assay, acute sturlies with the presently available lacl system offered no increase in sensitivity. However, subchronic lacl sturlies (3-4-month exposure) resulted in an increase in sensitivity over the established tests by 1-2 orders of magnitude (shown with 2-acetylaminofluorene, N-nitrosomethylamine, N-nitrosomethylurea and urethane). 1t is concluded that a positive result in the lacl test can be highly predictive of carcinogenicity butthat a negative result does not provide a large margin of safety.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @article{KlotzJesaitis1994, author = {Klotz, Karl-Norbert and Jesaitis, A. J.}, title = {The interaction of N-formyl peptide chemoattractant receptors with the membrane skeleton is energy-dependent}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60499}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Desensitization of N-fonnyl peptide chemoattractant receptors (FPR) in human neutrophils is thought to be achieved by lateral segregation of receptors and G proteins within the plane of the plasma membrane resulting in an interruption of the signalling cascade. Direct coupling of FPR to membrane skeletal actin appears to be the basis of this process~ however, the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study we investigated the effect of energy depletion on formation of FPR-membrane skeleton complexes. In addition the effect of the protein kinase C inhibitor stauroporine and the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid on coupling of FPR to the membrane skeletonwas studied. Human neutrophils were desensitized using the photoreactive agonist N-formy1-met-leu-phe-1ys-N'[\(^{125}\)I]2(p-azidosalicylamido)ethyl-1,3'-dithiopropionate (fMLFK-[\(^{125}\)I]ASD) after ATP depletion with NaF or after incubation with the respective inhibitors. The interaction of FPR with the membrane skeleton was studied by Sedimentation of the membrane skeleton-associated receptors in sucrose density gradients. Energy depletion of the cells markedly inhibited the formation of FPR-membrane skeleton complexes. This does not appear tobe related to inhibition of protein phosphorylation due to ATP depletion because inhibition of protein kinases and phosphatases bad no significant effect on coupling of FPR to the membrane skeleton. We conclude, therefore, that coupling of FPR to the membrane skeleton is an energy,dependent process which does not appear to require modification of the receptor protein by phosphorylation.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @article{KlotzLohse1986, author = {Klotz, Karl-Norbert and Lohse, M. J.}, title = {The glycoprotein nature of A\(_1\) adenosine receptors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60231}, year = {1986}, abstract = {A\(_1\) adenosine receptors from different tissues and species we~e photoaffinity labelled and then the carbohydrate content was examined by both enzymatic and chemical treatment. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the labelled membrane receptors shows that neuraminidase treatment alters the electrophoretic mobility of the receptor band indica ting the presence of terminal neurandnie acids. Neuraminidase digestion does not influence the binding characteristics of the receptor. The totally deglycosylated receptor protein obtained by chemical treatment has an apparent molecular weight Of 32,000.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} } @misc{SchlatterLutz1990, author = {Schlatter, J. and Lutz, Werner K.}, title = {The carcinogenic potential of ethyl carbamate (urethane): risk assessment at human dietary exposure levels}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60826}, year = {1990}, abstract = {Ethyl carbamate is found in fermented foods: bread contains 3-15 ng/g, stone-fruit brandies 200-20,000 ngfg, and about one-third of table-wine samples analysed contained more than 10 ng/g. In animals, ethyl carbamate is degraded to C02, H20 and NH3, with intermediate formation ofethanol. This degradation has been shown tobe inhibited (postponed) in the mouse by ethanol concentrations in the blood of about 0.15\% and higher. A quantitatively minor pathway involves a two-step oxidation of the ethyl group to vinyl carbamate and epoxyethyl carbamate, the postulated electrophilic moiety that reacts with DNA. This reaction is probably the mode of the mutagenic action observed in many cellular and animal systems. The fact that only vinyl carbamate, but not ethyl carbamate, is mutagenic in a standard Ames test is probably because there is insufficient production of the intermediate oxidation product in the standard test. Consistent with this metabolism is the carcinogenic activity of ethyl carbamate in various animal species and in different organs; this activity can be seen even after a single high dose in early life. Quantitative analysis of the total tumour incidences after chronic exposure of rats and mice to 0.1-12.5 mg ethyl carbamate/kg body weightjday in the drinking-water showed a dose-related increase. The main target organs were the mammary gland (female rats and mice having similar susceptibilities) and the Jung (mice only). On the basis of sex- and organ-specific tumour data and with a linear extrapolation to a negligible increase of the lifetime tumour incidence by 0.0001\% ( one additional tumour in one mil{\"u}on individuals exposed for life), a "virtually safe dose .. of 20 to 80 ng/kg body weight/day was estimated. The daily burden reached under normal dietary habits without alcoholic beverages is in the range of about 20 ng/kg body weightfday. Regular table-wine consumption would increase the risk by a factor of up to five. Regular drinking of 20 to 40 ml stone-fruit brandy per day could raise the calculated lifetime tumour risk to near 0.01\%.}, subject = {Toxikologie}, language = {en} }