The intrasanguineous host mediated assay procedure using Saccharomyces cerevisiae: comparison with two other metabolic activation systems.

3 metabolic activation systems--organ homogenates, perfused liver, and the intrasanguineous host mediated assay (IHMA)--were compared in their abilities to activate demethylnitrosamine (DMN) and induce gene conversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4. Both rats and mice were used for the organ homogenates and IHMA studies. All activation systems were able to activate DMN; where the different organs were compared, liver was more active than kidney, followed by lung. The IHMA was the most sensitive of the systems examined.