Expression of TEM-induced damage to postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis of the mouse during early embryogenesis. II. Cytological investigations

Gender differences in the induction of chromosomal aberrations and gene mutations in rodent germ cells

Germ cell mutagenicity testing provides experimental data to quantify genetic risk for exposed human populations. The majority of tests are performed with exposure of males, and female data are relatively rare. The reason for this paucity lies in the differences between male and female germ cell biology. Male germ cells are produced throughout reproductive life and all developmental stages can be ascertained by appropriate breeding schemes. In contrast, the female germ cell pool is limited, meiosis begins during embryogenesis and oocytes are arrested over long periods of time until maturation processes start for small numbers of oocytes during the oestrus cycle in mature females. The literature data are reviewed to point out possible gender differences of germ cells to exogenous agents such as chemicals or ionizing radiation. From the limited information, it can be concluded that male germ cells are more sensitive than female germ cells to the induction of chromosomal aberrations and gene mutations. However, exceptions are described which shed doubt on the extrapolation of experimental data from male rodents to the genetic risk of the human population. Furthermore, the female genome may be more sensitive to mutation induction during peri-conceptional stages compared to the male genome of the zygote. With few exceptions, germ cell experiments have been carried out under high acute exposure to optimize the effects and to compensate for the limited sample size in animal experiments. Human exposure to environmental agents, on the other hand, is usually chronic and involves low doses. Under these conditions, gender differences may become apparent that have not been studied so far. Additionally, data are reviewed that suggest a false impression of safety when responses are negative under high acute exposure of male rodents while a mutational response is induced by low chronic exposure. The classical (morphological) germ cell mutation tests are not performed anymore because they are animal and time consuming. Nevertheless, information is needed to place genetic risk extrapolations on more solid grounds and thereby to prevent an increased genetic burden to future generations. It is pointed out that modern molecular methodologies are available now to experimentally address the open questions.

Mechanisms and consequences of paternally-transmitted chromosomal abnormalities

Paternally-transmitted chromosomal damage has been associated with pregnancy loss, developmental and morphological defects, infant mortality, infertility, and genetic diseases in the offspring, including cancer. There is epidemiological evidence linking paternal exposure to occupational or environmental agents with an increased risk of abnormal reproductive outcomes. There is also a large body of literature on germ cell mutagenesis in rodents showing that treatment of male germ cells with mutagens has dramatic consequences on reproduction, producing effects such as those observed in human epidemiological studies. However, we know very little about the etiology, transmission, and early embryonic consequences of paternally-derived chromosomal abnormalities. The available evidence suggests that: 1) there are distinct patterns of germ cell-stage differences in the sensitivity of induction of transmissible genetic damage, with male postmeiotic cells being the most sensitive; 2) cytogenetic abnormalities at first metaphase after fertilization are critical intermediates between paternal exposure and abnormal reproductive outcomes; and 3) there are maternal susceptibility factors that may have profound effects on the amount of sperm DNA damage that is converted into chromosomal aberrations in the zygote and that directly affect the risk for abnormal reproductive outcomes.

Germ cell mutagenicity of phthalic acid in mice

Mutagenicity of phthalic acid was evaluated by employing dominant lethal mutation and sperm head abnormality assays in male Swiss albino mice. For the dominant lethal mutation assay, adult male mice received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of either 40 mg or 80 mg/kg b.w. of phthalic acid for 5 consecutive days. For the sperm head abnormality assay, the mice were treated with 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w. as a single i.p. injection. Treatment of adult male mice with phthalic acid resulted in induction of dominant lethal mutations and abnormal sperm heads. The results obtained indicate that phthalic acid is a germ cell mutagen.

Micronuclei and developmental abnormalities in 4-day mouse embryos after paternal treatment with acrylamide

The developmental consequences of paternal exposure to acrylamide (50 mg/kg i.p. for 5 days) were assessed in preimplantation embryos. There was a significant increase in the proportion of morphologically abnormal embryos after postmeiotic treatment during spermatogenesis (88.7% vs. 14.8% in control). Abnormal embryos had an average of 1.8 +/- 3.5 cells and > 80% had at least one fragmented nucleus. In addition, morphologically normal embryos were significantly delayed (34.3 +/- 12.8 cells per embryo vs. 57.6 +/- 15.7 in control, P < 0.001). Acrylamide caused 10- and 20-fold increases in frequencies of cells with micronuclei (MN) in morphologically normal and abnormal embryos, respectively (41 and 93 MN per 1,000 cells). Both centromere-negative (MN-) and centromere-positive (MN+) were induced. Nuclei of abnormal embryos were significantly larger (900 microm2 vs. 250 microm2) than controls. In addition, MN of abnormal embryos were larger than those of normal embryos (21.2 microm2 vs. 6.5 microm2, P < 0.01). Among control embryos, MN+ were significantly larger than MN- (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the preimplantation embryo is a sensitive indicator of paternally transmitted effects on early development. Multiple mechanisms appear to be involved, including cytogenetic damage, proliferation arrest/delay, and fertilization failure. Future studies are needed to establish how induced cytological defects in preimplantation embryos contribute to birth defects and other postimplantation abnormalities.

Induction of chromosomal aberrations in mouse zygotes by acrylamide treatment of male germ cells and their correlation with dominant lethality and heritable translocations

The objectives of this research were: 1) to investigate the time course of the cytogenetic defects induced by acrylamide (AA) treatment (5 x 50 mg/kg) of male germ cells in first-cleavage zygote metaphases using PAINT/DAPI analysis, and 2) to characterize the correlation between chromosomal aberrations at first cleavage, dominant lethality, and heritable translocations. PAINT/DAPI analysis employs multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization painting plus DAPI staining to detect both stable and unstable chromosomal aberrations at first-cleavage metaphase of the zygote. High levels of chromosomally defective zygotes were detected after mating at all postmeiotic stages (20-190-fold, P < 0.001). Early spermatozoa (6.5 d post-treatment) were the most sensitive, with 76% of the zygotes carrying cytogenetic defects. A significant 10-fold increase was also detected 27.5 d post-treatment, indicating that AA had a cytogenetic effect on meiotic stages. PAINT/DAPI analysis revealed that: 1) AA-induced chromosomal breaks occurred at random, and 2) the frequencies of symmetrical and asymmetrical exchanges were similar at all mating days, except 9.5 d after AA treatment, where significantly (P < 0.02) more asymmetrical aberrations were found. Furthermore, the proportions of zygotes carrying unstable and stable chromosomal aberrations followed a similar post-treatment time course as the proportions of dominant lethality among embryos and heritable translocations among offspring. These findings indicate that PAINT/DAPI analysis of zygotic metaphases is a promising method for detecting male germ cell mutagens capable of inducing chromosomal aberrations and for evaluating the associated risks for embryonic loss and balanced translocations at birth.

Chromosome analysis of human spermatozoa exposed to antineoplastic agents in vitro

We studied in vitro the cytogenetic effects of six antineoplastic agents, bleomycin (BM), cyclophosphamide (CP), daunomycin (DM), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mitomycin C (MMC) and triethylenemelamine (TEM) on spermatozoa, using an interspecific in vitro fertilization system between zona-free hamster oocytes and human or bull spermatozoa. In preliminary experiments with bull spermatozoa, clastogenic effects were clearly shown with BM, DM, MMS and TEM, but not with CP and MMC. In main experiments, the effects of the first four chemicals were studied in detail with human spermatozoa. Total numbers of 585 and 512 spermatozoa were karyotyped in the control and the chemical-treated groups respectively. The incidence of spermatozoa with structural chromosome aberrations was 34.5%, 53.0%, 59.3%, and 55.6% in the BM (50 micrograms/ml, 90 min), DM (0.1 microgram/ml, 90 min), MMS (100 micrograms/ml, 120 min) and TEM (0.1 micrograms/ml, 120 min) groups respectively, each showing a significantly higher incidence than the matched controls (10.1-13.5%). Breakage-type aberrations were more frequent than exchange-type aberrations in the BM, MMS and TEM groups, while the exchange-type aberrations were more frequent in the DM group. Exchanges were mainly of the chromatid type in the DM, MMS and TEM groups, while chromosome-type exchanges occurred more frequently in the BM group. These results are discussed in relation to previous data on chemical-induced chromosome aberrations in mammalian somatic cells and in mouse spermatozoa.

Acrylamide-induced chromosomal damage in male mouse germ cells detected by cytogenetic analysis of one-cell zygotes

Within a project coordinated by the Commission of the European Communities for the detection of germ cell mutagens, the cytogenetic analysis of first-cleavage metaphases was carried out to detect chromosomal damage induced by acrylamide (AA) in meiotic and postmeiotic stages of mouse spermatogenesis. Male mice were intraperitoneally injected with single acute doses of 75 or 125 mg/kg or treated with five daily injections of 50 mg/kg and mated either 7 or 28 days after the end of treatment. Chromosomal aberrations were scored in C-banded metaphases prepared from one-cell zygotes by a mass harvest technique. AA treatment of late spermatids-spermatozoa resulted in significant increases of structural aberrations at all doses tested. The data could be fitted to a curvilinear regression and a doubling dose of 23 mg/kg was calculated. The large majority of observed aberrations were of the chromosome type, including dicentrics, rings and translocations, in agreement with a mechanism of chromosomal damage mediated through the alkylation of DNA-associated protamines. Even though the frequency of aberrations 28 days after treatment was not significantly higher than the control value, the presence of multiple rearrangements in two cells suggested that AA might also have a minor effect on spermatocytes. The results of the cytogenetic analysis of first cleavage metaphases agreed well both qualitatively and quantitatively with the outcome of dominant lethal and heritable translocation assays. AA-induced cytotoxicity was monitored by flow cytometric DNA content analysis of testicular cells. By this method, a dose-dependent depletion of mature spermatids after treatment of spermatogonia and a toxic effect upon primary spermatocytes were detected.

Radiation- and chemically-induced chromosome aberrations in mouse oocytes: a comparison with effects in males

Data from studies on radiation- and chemically-induced chromosome aberrations in mouse oocytes have been summarized. An attempt has been made to assess the relative sensitivity to mutagenic agents of female and male germ cells through comparison of observations from mutation studies of female and male mice. No unequivocal evidence of a mutagenic effect limited to a single sex could be found in the cytogenetic data, although differences in relative germ cell sensitivity could be inferred for ionizing radiation and some chemicals. However, the pattern of inter-sex variations was not consistent: for example, irradiation of dictyate oocytes yielded a lower rate of heritable chromosome translocations than the same dose to spermatogonia; in contrast, some chemicals, such as mitomycin C, yielded a larger incidence of chromosome anomalies after treatment of dictyate oocytes than spermatogonia. Overall, the limitations in quality and quantity of cytogenetic data, and the uncertainties associated with comparing information obtained in disparate assays, place severe constraints on the use of observations on induced chromosome aberrations to assess the relative sensitivities of female and male germ cells to environmental mutagens.

Relationship between cell cycle stage in the fertilized egg of mice and repair capacity for X-ray-induced damage in the sperm

The potentiation effects of 3-aminobenzamide, caffeine, hydroxyurea and arabinofuranosyl cytosine on the yield of X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations of mouse sperm were examined at the first-cleavage metaphase, to clarify a correlation between chromosome aberrations and cell cycle dependency of repair capacity of the fertilized egg. The result provided evidence that there are two major types of DNA damage in X-irradiated sperm: (1) short-lived DNA lesions; the lesions are subject to repair inhibition by agents added in G1 and are converted into chromosome-type aberrations during G1, and (2) long-lived DNA lesions; the lesions persist until S phase and repair of the lesions is inhibited by caffeine, hydroxyurea and arabinofuranosyl cytosine in G2.

Effect of procarbazine on sperm morphology in Syrian hamsters

The effect of procarbazine, an antineoplastic drug, on the reproductive system of male Syrian hamsters was studied. Exposure to procarbazine (5 daily doses ranging from 20 to 500 mg/kg body weight) resulted in 5- to 7.5-fold increase in sperm abnormalities, diminished sperm counts, and smaller testes within 4 wk. Transmission electron micrographs showed severe damage to the acrosomal plasma membrane and nucleus of the sperm head in treated hamsters. These findings corroborate the detrimental effect of procarbazine on the germinal tissue and strengthen the basis for using the sperm morphology assay for the detection of mutagens and possibly other germ-cell toxicants in an in vivo mammalian system.

Chromosomal analysis in mouse eggs fertilized in vitro with sperm exposed to ultraviolet light (UV) and methyl and ethyl methanesulfonate (MMS and EMS)

Chromosome aberrations were analyzed at the first-cleavage metaphase of mouse eggs fertilized in vitro with sperm exposed to ultraviolet light (UV) as well as to methyl and ethyl methanesulfonate (MMS and EMS). The frequencies of chromosome aberrations markedly increased with dose of UV as well as with concentration of MMS and EMS. In the UV-irradiation group, the frequency of chromosome-type aberrations was much higher than that of chromatid-type aberrations. About 90% of chromosome aberrations observed in the eggs following MMS and EMS treatment to sperm were chromosome type in which the frequency of chromosome fragments was the highest. The effects of UV on the induction of chromosome aberrations were clearly potentiated by post-treatment incubation of fertilized eggs in the presence of Ara-C or caffeine, but the effects of MMS and EMS were not pronounced by post-treatment of Ara-C or caffeine. The results indicate a possibility that UV damage induced in mouse sperm DNA is reparable in the eggs during the period between the entry of sperm into the egg cytoplasm and the first-cleavage metaphase.

Studies on chromosome aberrations in the eggs of mice fertilized in vitro after irradiation. II. Chromosome aberrations induced in mature oocytes and fertilized eggs at the pronuclear stage following X-irradiation

Cytological analysis of the first-cleavage metaphase of eggs exposed to X-rays at the mature oocyte stage or the pronuclear stage 4 h after fertilization was performed using the in vitro fertilization technique. The frequency of chromosome aberrations in irradiated mature oocytes increased exponentially with dose, the dose-response relationship being best fitted to the linear-quadratic model. On the other hand, in eggs irradiated at the early pronuclear stage, the frequency increased linearly with dose and the dose-response relationship was best fitted to the linear model. The aberrations were mainly chromosome-type (mature oocytes: 86.0% and pronuclear stage: 88.5%) and the majority were fragments in both cases. Eggs in the early pronuclear stage were markedly more radiation-sensitive than mature oocytes. A comparison of the present results with the previous ones (Matsuda et al., 1985b) showed that the sensitivities to induction of chromosome aberrations were in the order: egg at early pronuclear stage (highest) greater than mature oocyte greater than mature sperm.

Dominant lethal study in male mice treated with ofloxacin, a new antimicrobial drug

Ofloxacin (OFLX) in a single dose (250 or 2500 mg/kg) or 5 consecutive daily doses (125 or 1250 mg/kg) produced no dominant lethal mutational effects in male BDF1 strain mice during an 8-week mating schedule. Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), used as a positive control, produced dominant lethal mutations within 1-3 weeks of mating.

Antifertility and mutagenic effects in mice from parenteral administration of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)

The subcutaneous administration of 1-10 mg of undiluted di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) to adult male ICR mice on d 1, 5, and 10 was followed by mating, one to one, with untreated adult virgin females. A single mating at d 21 resulted in a reduction in the incidence of pregnancies in the DEHP-treated groups. On the other hand, repeated matings with fresh females starting on d 2, 6, 11, 16, and 21, and at weekly intervals through 8 wk, revealed no perceptible effect of DEHP on the incidence of pregnancy. Examination of surgically exposed uteri and ovaries of pregnant females on d 13 of gestation revealed an increase in the incidence of preimplantation losses and early fetal deaths in the DEHP-treated groups; consequently, there were fewer viable fetuses per pregnancy. Mutagenic indices for DEHP, calculated as percent ratios of (1) preimplantation losses/implantations per pregnancy and (2) early fetal deaths/implantations per pregnancy, suggested a dominant lethal mutation effect in the treated mice. These effects tend to be more pronounced on the postmiotic stage of germ-cell development.

Supraadditive formation of micronuclei in preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro after combined treatment with X-rays and caffeine

The influence of caffeine (0.1 or 2 mM), X-rays (0.24 Gy [= 25 R] or 0.94 Gy [= 100 R]), or of a combination of both on the formation of micronuclei in early stages of preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro was studied. X-rays as well as caffeine induced micronuclei. The dose-effect curve after irradiation was linear for the dose range measured (0-3.76 Gy; = 0-400 R). Caffeine did not induce micronuclei if the concentration was 1 mM or less; between 1 mM and 7 mM, however, there was a linear increase in the number of micronuclei. A considerable enhancement of the number of radiation-induced micronuclei was observed when irradiation of the embryos was followed by a treatment with caffeine. Not only was the sum of the single effects exceeded by the combination effects, but the combination results even lay in the range of supraadditivity of the envelope of additivity.

New approaches to mutagenicity studies in animals for carcinogenic and mutagenic agents. II. Clastogenic effects determined in transplacentally treated mouse embryos

Cell suspensions from whole embryos were obtained on the 12th day of gestation from treated pregnant female mice. For the present experiments five model mutagens-BaP, bleomycin, mitomycin C, procarbazine, and TEM--were chosen for their different modes of action in inducing chromosomal aberrations. Time-response and dose-response were studied for chromosomal aberrations induced by transplacental treatment of mouse embryos. All five known mutagens gave a positive response in the present system. The maximum time of response varied from compound to compound and was found as early as 3h after treatment with the G2-clastogen bleomycin or as late as 18 h after treatment with the bifunctional alkylating agent TEM. Chromatid breaks and exchanges increased with dose in all instances. The correlations between clastogenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic effects are discussed. It is concluded that the transplacental cytogenetic test may be applicable to identify chemicals that exhibit all three properties.

The use of fertilised mouse eggs in detecting potential clastogens

Male mice were treated with methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and then serially mated to females in oestrus, over the whole of the spermatogenic cycle. Chromosome preparations were made from fertilised eggs obtained from the matings and cultured overnight in the presence of a mititic inhibitor. No chromosomally abnormal eggs were found in matings using untreated animals but matings involving MMS-treated males produced a variety of abnormalities. The most sensitive stage in the spermatogenic cycle was 8 days after treatment, corresponding to the testicular sperm stage of spermatogenesis. At this sampling time 97% of the eggs analysed were chromosomally abnormal and the aberrations detected were predominantly 'shattered' male chromosomes. The aberration frequency in the post-meiotic stages decreased steadily up to day 20. No further structural chromosome aberrations were detected, until day 48, when chromosome fragments were detected in 2 eggs (4%) indicating that pre-meiotic damage can be induced and transmitted. The low background frequency obtained with the procedures used in this study enhances the sensitivity of the system for experimentally assessing the effects of clastogenic agents on male and female germ cells.

Expression of genetic damage induced by alkylating agents in germ cells of female mice

The purpose of the present experiments was to analyse the frequencies of meiotic non-disjunction and structural aberrations by comparative cytogenetic investigations in unfertilized mII oocytes and first-cleavage metaphases after pre-ovulatory treatment of female mice with alkylating agents. We also present data on the expression of both types of aberration during embryogenesis in terms of dominant lethal effects. Trenimon (TR, 1 mg/kg) induced meiotic non-disjunction, but no structural aberrations were detected at metaphase II. On the contrary, at first-cleavage metaphase, TR revealed a strong clastogenic effect. A dose of 0.25 mg TR/kg increased the frequency of cells with structural aberrations to 51.79%. Mainly chromatid and a few isochromatid aberrations were found. These results support the observations previously made (see Brewen and Preston, 1979; Obe and Beek, 1979) that an intervening round of DNA replication is necessary for a TR-induced DNA lesion to be transformed into a structural aberration. The frequency of aberrant eggs in toto analysed at first cleavage (63.39%) can be quantitatively correlated to the rate of embryonic mortality (55.17%) as measured in the dominant lethal assay at the first day after treatment. We also present data on the effects of cyclophosphamide (CYC) on the first meiotic division. CYC (150 mg/kg) enhanced the incidence of meiotic non-disjunction only slightly, but induced a high frequency of dominant lethal effects (58.94%) at the first day after application.

Mithramycin- and triethylene melamine- induced sperm abnormalities in Lakeview hamsters

The sperm abnormality-inducing action of two potential mutagenic agents mithramycin and triethylene melamine (TEM), in inbred Lakeview hamsters was studied and results compared with similar investigations in mouse. Test hamsters received subacute intraperitoneal exposures ranging from 0.01 to 0.25 mg/kg body weight with either agent for 5 consecutive days. Testis weights, epididymal sperm numbers, and body weights were also monitored at weeks 1, 4, and 10 after treatment. Mithramycin-treated hamsters showed 21 times more sperm abnormalities than control (25% vs. 1.2%) whereas TEM elevated sperm abnormalities by eight fold. The frequency and type of aberrant sperm varied with dose and time, being the highest at weeks 1 or 4, rather than week 10, with either agent. Sperm number and testis weights remained depressed considerably from 4 to 10 weeks after treatment with either agent. Body weights in chemically treated hamsters remained within 28% of control for the test period. Even though our findings were in general agreement with those reported for mouse, the magnitude of the response and the stage of spermatogenic sensitivity in the chemical induction of sperm abnormalities in the two species were different.

Evaluation of chemically induced cytogenetic lesions in rabbit oocytes. I. The test system and the effects of streptonigrin

An appropriate method for evaluating transmissible genetic damage in female germ cells is presented. Analysis of karyotype preparations from preimplantation (6- day) rabbit embryos for consistent structural chromosome abnormalities is described as a sensitive way in which these determinations can be made. A table prepared from summarized research reports shows that less than 1 in 2000 rabbit blastocysts karyotyped thus far has a consistent structural chromosome abnormality. In the new data presented in this study, none of the 90 control blastocysts karyotyped had consistent structural chromosome abnormalities while 13 of 278 from female rabbits treated with streptonigrin (NSC-45383) before conception did. These findings demonstrate that karyotype analysis for consistent chromosome lesions in preimplantation rabbit embryos from females exposed to chemical clastogens can serve as a sensitive and quantitative means of estimating effects on oocytes. The results of the study also show that the consistent structural chromosome lesions in the blastocyst karyotypes are what would be predicted from the mode of action of streptonigrin and the segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. The relative efficiency of this system based on the rabbit as compared to another recently described system bases on the hamster is also discussed.

Whole-mammal mutagenicity tests: evaluation of five methods

Transmitted genetic changes in mammals can be used to study all of the main endpoints of mutagenesis: point mutations, chromosome breakage, with or without rearrangement, and chromosome nondisjunction. Four methods most commonly employed in whole-mammal germ-line mutagenicity tests as well as an in vivo somatic prescreen, are summarized. Genetic basis, historical background, description of the test, limitations, and strengths are presented for each of the five systems. The specific-locus test using visible markers is the most reliable and practical method for detecting heritable point mutations, including small deficiencies, and does not require very large numbers of animals for risk extrapolations, if a relatively high dose can be administered without killing germ cells. For the detection of chromosome-breakage events, dominant lethals are useful to determine relative sensitivities of different germ-cell stages of the male, but the heritable-translocation test is more sensitive when the exposed cells are male meiotic and postmeiotic stages. Chromosome breakage events in the female are best revealed through a sex-chromosome loss test, which utilizes genetically marked X chromosomes. The same method can also be employed to detect nondisjunction in either sex. The in vivo somatic mutation test is useful as a prescreen for both point mutations and losses of chromosomal material. The reliability and efficiency of whole-mammal mutagenicity tests must be considered in two contexts: in the assessment of mutagenicity per se (as this applies to genetic changes transmitted to future generations), and in the use of mutagenicity as a possible indicator of carcinogenicity. In the former context, the whole-mammal tests are irreplaceable because they provide the closest practicable approach to the metabolic pathways existing in man, and because there is no array of lower-system tests that can predict the complexity of the response of the different mammalian germ-cell stages (which differ greatly with respect both to their absolute and their relative sensitivities to the induction of various genetic endpoints). In the second context, i.e., the use of mutagenicity as a screen for carcinogenicity in the exposed individual, most of the whole-mammal tests are of more limited utility, because they require several weeks or months for completion. Of the methods discussed, the spot test appears most suitable, because it provides a relatively rapid in vivo system capable of detecting both gene mutations and chromosomal changes of various kinds in somatic cells, including some that have been suggested to be involved in tumor promotion.

Lack of an indication of mutagenic effects of dinitrotoluenes and diaminotoluenes in mice

The mutagenic effects of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), purified and technical grades, 3,5-DNT, 2,4-diaminotoluene (2,4-DAT), and 2,5-DAT were tested in mice using one or more of the following: the dominant lethal assay, the sperm morphology test and/or the recessive spot test. Compounds were administered by both intraperitoneal (IP) injection and gavage, and comparisons were made between controls and treated groups as well as between routes of administration. None of the five compounds tested produced a significant response in any of the systems employed. Treatment with purified 2,4-DNT and 3,5-DNT resulted in marked reductions in the percent of fertile matings. These data indicate a lack of mutagenicity of these compounds in the test systems employed here. The observed fertility effects are consistent with previously published data on DNT-induced testicular damage.

Repair in fertilized eggs of mice and its role in the production of chromosomal aberrations

The fertilized egg may influence the yield of dominant-lethal mutations produced from chemical treatment of male postmeiotic germ cells to a small or large extent depending upon the mutagen used and the competence of the egg to repair the premutational lesions induced. The strain of females has little influence on the yield of dominant-lethal mutations induced by triethylenemelamine or ethyl methane-sulfonate in spermatids and spermatozoa, but it has a large influence in the case of isopropyl methanesulfonate. In addition to this difference, triethylenemelamine and ethyl methanesulfonate induce high levels of heritable translocations at these germ cell stages whereas isopropyl methanesulfonate is practically ineffective, even though doses of these chemicals produced comparable levels of dominant-lethal mutations. These differences between ethyl methanesulfonate and triethylenemelamine on one hand and isopropyl methanesulfonate on the other were hypothesized to be a function of the types of chromosomal lesions present at the time of repair activity and whether or not chromosomal aberrations were already fixed at the time of postfertilization pronuclear DNA synthesis.