Differences in the response to mutagens between two V79 sublines

Two V79 Chinese hamster sublines (V79-UL and V79-MZ) which differed markedly with respect to their spontaneous pattern of mutations at the HPRT locus were comparatively investigated in genotoxicity tests with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS). EMS-induced frequencies of HPRT mutations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were much higher in V79-MZ than in V79-UL. V79-MZ were not hypersensitive against EMS and had normal frequencies of spontaneous gene mutations and chromosome aberrations. Baseline SCE frequencies at various BrdUrd concentrations were slightly increased compared to V79-UL. EMS induced a similar amount of chromosome aberrations in both cell lines but exchange figures occurred with lower frequency in V79-MZ. The results indicate that specific and significant differences in the response to mutagens may exist between ‘normal’ Chinese hamster cell lines which might be relevant for genotoxicity testing.