Abstract

Six compounds were investigated on mutagenic properties in order to assess the most probable intermediary product that causes the mutagenicity of 3-methyl-5-phenyl-2-pyridineamine. Of these compounds 2-acetylamino-3-methyl-5-phenylpyridine was the least mutagenic one. the other substances, 3-methyl-2-nitro-5-phenylpyridine, 3-methyl-2- nitroso-5-phenylpyridine, 3-methyl-2-hyudroxylamino-5-phenylpyridine, 3-methyl-2-acetylhydroxylamino-5-phenylpyridine and N2-acetoxy-3-methyl- 5-phenylpyridineamine, were mutagenic. Furthermore, substantial differences in numbers of revertants were obtained with the Salmonella teststrains TA98, TA98NR and TA98/1,8 DNP6 with the exception of 3- methyl-2-nitro-hydroxylamino-5-phenylpyridine as the ultimate mutagen intermediar of 3-methyl-5-phenyl-2-pyridineamine. However, further investigations are needed to corroborate these conclusions.