Induction of experimental autoimmune diabetes by low-dose streptozotocin treatment in genetically resistant mice

We have studied the effect of suppressor cell elimination on the induction of experimental autoimmune diabetes in mouse strains which are normally low or intermediate responders to multiple low-dose streptozotocin treatment. BALB/c (low responder) and C57BL/6J (intermediate responder) mice received 70 mg cyclophosphamide/kg, 1 or 6 days before the onset of streptozotocin injections.Following cyclophosphamide treatment, BALB/c mice become susceptible to the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin. Similarly the manifestation of diabetes in C57BL/6J mice is enhanced. Thus in both strains immunomodulation by cyclophosphamide treatment significantly increases the susceptibility towards the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin.We therefore conclude that in mice of strains BALB/c and C57BL/6J suppressor cells control the level of resistance towards the induction of experimental autoimmune diabetes by low-dose streptozotocin treatment.     

Adjuvanticity of pertussis toxin is mediated by differential effects on the activity of T suppressor, T amplifier and T helper cells

The immunomodulatory effects of pertussis toxin (Ptx) were studied in BALB/c mice immunized with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III). The antibody response to SSS-III is predominantly of the IgM class and is regulated by two opposing types of T cells, a T suppressor (TS) and a T amplifier (TA) cell. Treatment of mice with Ptx at the time of immunization with SSS-III results in an enhancement of the splenic antigen-specific IgM response, which was estimated by a plaque-forming cell assay. Numbers of non-antigen-specific IgM producing cells were not significantly affected. This adjuvant effect occurred in nu/+ but not in T cell deficient nu/nu mice. Such adjuvanticity appears to be due in part to the neutralization of TS, since (a) Ptx-treatment was found to reverse TS-mediated low-dose immunological tolerance induced in mice previously exposed to a subimmunogenic dose of SSS-III, and (b) in vitro Ptx-treatment of a cell population enriched in SSS-III-specific TS, activity abolished the capacity of such cells to transfer suppression when given to recipients at the time of immunization with SSS-III. In another type of cell transfer experiment, it was shown that Ptx treatment resulted in an increased frequency of TA in mice immunized with SSS-III. We conclude that Ptx differentially affects at least two populations of regulatory T cells, and that these effects are not directly related to the mitogenicity of Ptx for T cells or to a direct effect upon B cells.     

Potentiation of delayed-type hypersensitivity by pertussigen or cyclophosphamide with release of different lymphokines.

The effects of lymphokine production of two agents known to potentiate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), pertussigen (pertussis toxin) (PT) and cyclophosphamide (CY) have been investigated. These two agents were administered to immunized mice. Subsequently, lymph nodes and spleen cells were exposed to specific antigen in vitro. The resulting culture supernatants were assayed for the presence of lymphokines. Only supernatants of cells from the mice given PT contained appreciable quantities of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and stimulated cells of the monocyte-like WEHI-265 cell line to produce procoagulant activator and plasminogen activator. On the other hand, CY was more effective than PT on the production of interleukin-3 (IL-3). Both adjuvants had small enhancing effects on the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). With either adjuvant, the cell populations induced had a similarly enhanced capacity to transfer DTH. These results demonstrate that the capacity of cells to transfer DTH does not necessarily correlate with their release of particular lymphokines. The potentiation of DTH by cyclophosphamide did not depend on significantly enhanced generation of IFN-gamma, procoagulant activator, or plasminogen activator. The amount of IFN-gamma in the culture supernatants correlated with their capacity to produce procoagulant activator and plasminogen activator, whereas the amount of IL-2 and IL-3 did not.     

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate involvement in low-dose cyclophosphamide-reversed immune evasion in a mouse lymphoma model

Lymphoma cells mobilize many mechanisms to evade the immune system. There is substantial evidence that CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the control of immune evasion. Tregs can transfer cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to effector T cells, suggesting an association between Tregs'' immune-evasion role and the intracellular cAMP pathway. In this study, we used A20 B-cell lymphoma mice as aggressive tumor models to investigate the mechanism of the depletion of Tregs by low-dose cyclophosphamide (CY, 20 mg/kg). The tumor-bearing mice had longer survival times and slower tumor growth rates following treatment with CY, but its effects were temporary. Along with the depletion of Tregs by low-dose CY treatment, the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in T effector cells increased, and intracellular cAMP concentrations in immune cells decreased. Our study demonstrates the ability of low-dose CY to reverse Tregs-mediated immune evasion in a mouse model. The changes in intracellular cAMP concentrations correlated with the upregulation of effector T cells and the downregulation of Tregs, indicating the close association of cAMP analogs and low-dose CY in the immune therapy of B-cell lymphoma.     

Examination of the differential characteristics of amplifier and contrasuppressor T cells

Vicia villosa lectin-adherent Lyt-1+ spleen cells, obtained 4 days after immunization with an optimally immunogenic dose (0.5 micrograms) of Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III), increased the magnitude of the antibody response of mice to SSS-III upon transfer to recipients also immunized with the same antigen; however, the ability to demonstrate such enhancement depended greatly upon when such cells were transferred relative to immunization of recipients. Lectin-adherent cells augmented the antibody response of athymic nude (nu/nu) mice to SSS-III, and abrogated the expression - but not the induction - of low-dose immunological paralysis, a form of unresponsiveness mediated by suppressor T cells. These findings are consistent with effects usually attributed to the action of amplifier, rather than contrasuppressor, T cells.     

Low-dose X-irradiation and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide distinguishes three Lyt-1+ lymph node T-cell subtypes that respond to specific antigen in vitro

We investigated whether preculture exposure to low-dose X-irradiation and culture treatment with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HPCY), a synthetic derivative of cyclophosphamide (CY), might distinguish subtypes of thymic-dependent (T) lymphocytes that respond to specific antigen in vitro. Lymph node (LN) cells were obtained from mice pretreated with CY and immunized with aggregated (A) human IgG (HGG) in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA), and proliferation was assessed by incorporation of tritiated thymidine. Primed LN cells were untreated or exposed to low-dose irradiation before being cultured in medium alone and in medium containing 4-HPCY. The results show that these agents (irradiation and 4-HPCY) distinguished, in a dose-dependent manner, subtypes of T-cells which contribute to the specific antigen-stimulated proliferative response in vitro. For LN T-cells and LN Lyt-1+ T-cells, 20-25 rads and 1.0 microM 4-HPCY inactivated non-overlapping cell subtypes that respectively accounted for 26% and 28% of the response to HGG. The remaining 46% of HGG-responding cells were not affected by either agent. Although similar cell subtypes were discerned in unseparated LN cells, it required use of higher agent-doses. Cell cycle analysis revealed that treatment with irradiation, 4-HPCY, and the combination (both agents) caused S-phase arrest of 29%, 30%, and 55% of HGG-responding cells, respectively. Thus, identification of these cell subtypes could not be attributed to agent-mediated inactivation of HGG-responding cells that might be in exclusively different phases of the cell cycle.     

Comparison of the immunosuppressive efficacy of 6-mercaptopurine,azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and 036.5122 (Asta) on the primary and secondary immune response of mice to sheep erythrocytes

Two alkylating (cyclophosphamide and 036.5122 Asta) and two antiproliferative agents (6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine) have been compared for their immunosuppressive potency on the primary and secondary humoral immune response of mice. If equitoxic dosages of the respective drugs are compared, the alkylating agents proved to be of much higher immunosuppressive potency than the antiproliferative agents. In non toxic dosages alkylating agents were able to completely inhibit a primary or secondary immune response, whilst a similar effect with antiproliferative drugs could not be obtained even within toxic dose ranges. Induction of immunological tolerance was possible only by use of the alkylating agents. The significance of these comparative studies is discussed in view of the frequent use of the tested drugs in clinical immunosuppression.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 107, Mainz).     

Cyclophosphamide and prednisolone exacerbate the severity of intestinal paratuberculosis in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis monoassociated mice

In this study we examined the effects of continuous oral administration of the immunosuppressive agents cyclophosphamide and prednisolone on the susceptibility of gnotobiotic nu/+ BALB/c mice to intestinal paratuberculosis. Treatment with either cyclophosphamide or prednisolone led to fecal shedding of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, and increased the numbers of M. paratuberculosis recovered from the intestinal tract and liver, to levels similar to those recovered from untreated nu/nu mice. Numerous acid-fast bacilli and granulomas were observed within the intestinal tracts and livers of cyclophosphamide and prednisolone treated nu/+ and untreated nu/nu mice. In contrast, untreated control nu/+ mice infrequently shed small numbers of bacilli, harbored low numbers of M. paratuberculosis in their intestinal tracts, and did not have visible granulomas and acid fast bacilli in their tissues. Spleen cells from cyclophosphamide and prednisolone treated nu/+ mice, and from untreated nu/nu mice, had a reduced ability to proliferate in vitro in response to mitogen and antigens. These observations are consistent with previous evidence that cellular immunity restricts the development of intestinal paratuberculosis.     

Impairment of contrasuppressor activity in mice infected with the paramyxovirus of Newcastle disease.

Spleen cells from mice infected with the virus of Newcastle disease (NVD) fail to mediate the passive transfer of contact sensitivity to simple chemical haptens such as picryl chloride (Pcl) and oxazolone (Ox). The inhibitory effect of NDV can be bypassed by treating recipient mice with low doses of cyclophosphamide (Cy), suggesting that the T-effector cell which mediates the passive transfer of contact sensitivity is not affected by NDV infection. Vicia Villosa-adherent cells from immune mice display contrasuppressor activity and restore the ability of cells from NDV-infected mice to transfer contact sensitivity to naive recipients. In contrast, Vicia Villosa-adherent cells from NDV-infected mice fail to exert any contrasuppressor activity. Furthermore, contrasuppressor activity can also be detected in the culture supernatants of Vicia Villosa-adherent cells from uninfected, sensitized mice, but not in culture supernatants of Vicia Villosa-adherent cells from NDV-infected mice. The present results suggest that a Vicia Villosa-adherent contrasuppressor cell population is impaired by NDV infection.     

Importance of B cells to development of regulatory T cells and prolongation of tissue allograft survival in recipients receiving autologous bone marrow transplantation

We previously showed that congenic bone marrow transplantation (BMTx) post myeloablation augmented tissue allograft survival in association with increased regulatory T (Treg) cells of both host and bone marrow donor origin. Regulatory B (Breg) cells can also modulate T‐cell immunity and B cells may be implicated in the development of Treg cells. Accordingly, we explored the effect of B‐cell depletion in vivo on augmented graft survival post BMTx. C57BL/6 mice received BALB/c skin allografts followed 7 days later by myeloablation using cyclophosphamide and busulphan. Mice then received T‐cell‐depleted bone marrow from CD45.1 congenic donors, and ongoing immunosuppression with rapamycin (to day 28 after BMTx). Control mice received cyclophosphamide and busulphan followed by rapamycin, but not congenic bone marrow. At different times post BMTx, mice received B‐cell‐depleting antibody treatment, and the effect on both skin graft survival, and induction of Treg cells was assessed. BMTx resulted in significantly prolonged skin graft survival versus control mice, in association with attenuated donor‐specific alloreactivity relative to controls, increased splenic Treg cells and significantly diminished anti‐donor IgG. In mice receiving infusion of B‐depleting antibodies for 12 days from day 15 post BMTx, both graft survival and Treg cell activity were diminished, particularly for functional Treg cells of donor origin. Adoptive transfer of Breg cells from mice harvested at 15 days post BMTx prolonged survival in naive transplanted mice and increased Treg cell levels. Thus, autologous BMTx augmentation of graft survival is dependent in part upon a population of Breg cells that can modulate the function of donor‐derived Treg cells.     

不同剂量环磷酰胺诱导正常小鼠免疫抑制的对比研究

目的观察不同剂量环磷酰胺对正常小鼠免疫抑制的影响。方法采取不同的时间给予正常小鼠腹腔内注射小同剂量的环磷酰胺(CY),观察对小鼠免疫学指标的影响。结果正常小鼠腹腔注射20、80、100mg/kg的CY后,各剂量组均出现不同程度的免疫抑制。结论给予正常小鼠腹腔注射20、80、100mg/kg的CY,可建立免疫抑制模型,并且连续3d腹腔注射剂量为80mg/(kg·d)1CY的效果盛明显。     

Resistance of helper T lymphocytes to cyclophosphamide

The effect of cyclophosphamide (Cy) on helper T lymphocytes using an adoptive transfer approach in athymic nude mice was investigated. The results indicated that Cy, at a dose (100 mg/kg) which virtually abolished anti-sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) antibody plaque forming cell (PFC) response of Balb/c mice, did not alter significantly the capacity of their splenic T cells to restore the anti-SRBC PFC response of nude mice. This resistance of T helper cells was observed in unimmunized mice and in mice injected with SRBC two days prior to Cy administration. It has been concluded that both resting and antigen stimulated T helper cells responsible for reconstituting anti-SRBC response of nude mice are resistant to Cy.     

Modulation of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in the BALB/c mouse by cyclophosphamide-sensitive T cells.

Endotracheal bleomycin treatment is an effective inducer of pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis. Certain strains of mice, however, develop only minimal or no pulmonary fibrosis after treatment with bleomycin. The mechanism of unresponsiveness or low responsiveness in the BALB/c strain of mice is examined in this article. Pretreatment with cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) 2 days prior to bleomycin instillation significantly augmented the fibrotic response in these mice. Treatment by cyclophosphamide alone at the same dosage caused no significant pulmonary disease or fibrosis. Furthermore, suppression of fibrosis in the cyclophosphamide-pretreated animals could be reconstituted with spleen cells from normal untreated donor mice. If the donor spleen cells were depleted of T cells by cytotoxic anti-Thy-1.2 antisera prior to infusion into recipient animals, no such reconstitution was observed, suggesting that a population of splenic T cells was responsible for the effect. Since this dose of cyclophosphamide is known to be cytotoxic for suppressor T cells, these data would signify that the intensity of the lung fibrogenic response to bleomycin in BALB/c mice can be modulated by a population of this T cell subset. Furthermore, the cell reconstitution data would exclude the possibility that cyclophosphamide augments the bleomycin response by non-T-cell-mediated synergistic effects on lung injury. Nevertheless, the results conclusively demonstrate the ability of T cells to modulate pulmonary fibrosis in vivo, at least in the BALB/c mouse.     

Interleukin-1 promotes hyperglycemia and insulitis in mice normally resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

By administering physiological doses of interleukin-1 (IL-1) concurrently with multiple low doses of the beta cell toxin streptozotocin (MSZ), we observed an augmentation of diabetes by IL-1 in four different strains of mice. Augmentation of hyperglycemia by IL-1 was most prominent in the two MSZ-resistant mouse strains Balb/cJ and A/J. Furthermore, concurrent treatment with IL-1 and MSZ rendered these MSZ-resistant mice susceptible to the development of significant insulitis when compared to mice treated with MSZ alone. Development of insulitis was dependent upon the dose of IL-1; it was only observed at an IL-1 dose of 250 ng/kg body weight. Analysis of the leukocytic infiltrate in the islets of mice after treatment with 250 ng/kg IL-1 plus MSZ revealed the presence of L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T lymphocytes. Administration of MSZ alone or IL-1 alone did not produce diabetes in the MSZ-resistant mice, indicating that neither of these agents was toxic to the beta cells by itself. We conclude that IL-1 synergizes with MSZ to augment diabetes in mice that are normally resistant to the diabetogenic effects of MSZ.     

Immunomodulatory effects of cyclophosphamide and implementations for vaccine design

Drug repositioning refers to the utilization of a known compound in a novel indication underscoring a new mode of action that predicts innovative therapeutic options. Since 1959, alkylating agents, such as the lead compound cyclophosphamide (CTX), have always been conceived, at high dosages, as potent cytotoxic and lymphoablative drugs, indispensable for dose intensity and immunosuppressive regimen in the oncological and internal medicine armamentarium. However, more recent work highlighted the immunostimulatory and/or antiangiogenic effects of low dosing CTX (also called "metronomic CTX") opening up novel indications in the field of cancer immunotherapy. CTX markedly influences dendritic cell homeostasis and promotes IFN type I secretion, contributing to the induction of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes and/or the proliferation of adoptively transferred T cells, to the polarization of CD4(+) T cells into TH1 and/or TH17 lymphocytes eventually affecting the Treg/Teffector ratio in favor of tumor regression. Moreover, CTX has intrinsic "pro-immunogenic" activities on tumor cells, inducing the hallmarks of immunogenic cell death on a variety of tumor types. Fifty years after its Food and Drug Administration approval, CTX remains a safe and affordable compound endowed with multifaceted properties and plethora of clinical indications. Here we review its immunomodulatory effects and advocate why low dosing CTX could be successfully combined to new-generation cancer vaccines.     

Deficient tumor-specific immunity in old mice: in vivo mediation by suppressor cells, and correction of the defect by interleukin 2 supplementation in vitro but not in vivo

The capacity of old (18-24 months) C57BL/6 mice to develop an immune reaction against MC-B6-1 fibrosarcoma cells was studied using in vivo adoptive transfer experiments (Winn assay) and in vitro T cell-mediated cytotoxicity test. Anti-tumor immunity was found to decline with age, as indicated by a decreased anti-tumor growth T cell activity. A suppressive activity was also found present in the splenic T cell population of old mice which can inhibit the in vivo generation of immune T cells in young mice. These suppressors, or their precursors, were resistant to cyclophosphamide treatment and were effective only when administered 3 days before the immunization of young mice. These mice developed immune T cells perfectly when the suppressors were administered 3 days after immunization, indicating that suppressors may act at an early phase of T cell activation. The protective activity of T cells in vivo correlated well with the in vitro T cell cytotoxicity for MC-B6-1 tumor cells, as both were depressed in old mice. Exogenous interleukin 2 (IL 2) addition during the 4-day culture period partially restored the low cytotoxic activity of old immunized lymphocytes, suggesting that specific clones were present but that a lack of IL 2 limited their expansion. However, in vivo supplementation with IL 2 administered after immunization did not increase the protection mediated by old immunized T cells but, rather, increased the suppression. This work demonstrates the presence of a T cell suppressive activity in the spleen of old mice but also indicates that precursors of cytotoxic cells are generated by the immunization. It seems that in vitro IL 2 addition increases cytotoxic cells while in vivo IL 2 administration amplifies the development of suppressor cells generated during immunization of aged mice.     

Evidence that X-irradiation and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide affects different lymphocytes that respond to specific antigen in vitro

The present study examined the effect of pulse treatment with the in vitro active synthetic derivative of cyclophosphamide (CY), 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HPCY), and exposure to X-irradiation on the in vitro Concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and antigen-specific blastogenic responses of in vivo-primed lymph node cells. Primed lymph node cells from CY-pretreated, aggregated (A) human IgG-complete Freund's adjuvant (AHGG-CFA)-immunized mice were untreated, exposed to various doses of irradiation, or pulse treated with different concentrations of 4-HPCY before being cultured in medium alone or in medium containing HGG, ConA, or LPS. The results show that HGG-responding and LPS-responding cells exhibited similar dose-inactivation profiles following exposure to irradiation or pulse treatment with 4-HPCY. More than 75% of reactivity was eliminated by exposure to 100 rads or pulse treatment with 20 microM 4-HPCY. In contrast to preculture pulse treatment with 4-HPCY, however, when primed lymph node cells were cultured in medium containing 4-HPCY (culture treatment) LPS-responding cells were shown to be more sensitive to inactivation than HGG-responding cells. The data further show that the effect of low-dose irradiation and of culture treatment with 4-HPCY on the HGG-specific response of primed lymph node cells was additive, suggesting that these agents inactivate different cell subtypes that contribute to the HGG-specific response in vitro.     

The effect of cyclophosphamide and irradiation on cells which suppress contact sensitivity in the mouse.

Contact sensitivity was produced in mice by painting the skin with picryl chloride and was assessed by the increase in ear thickness following local challenge. Contact sensitivity was passively transferred by immune lymph node and spleen cells taken at 4 days. The mice were then challenged immediately and the reactions read at 24 and 48 hr. Immune lymph node and spleen cells taken at day 8 virtually fail to transfer. Experiment showed that they contain cells which suppress passive transfer. These are demonstrated by mixing approximately equal numbers of 4-day cells, which transfer contact sensitivity, and cells taken at later times and injecting them intravenously into recipients. These 'suppressor cells' can be demonstrated by day 6 and are still present at day 11 after immunization. The precursors of the suppressor cells are sensitive to cyclophosphamide. Irradiation of immune mice 2 days before taking cells also selectively inactivates the suppressor cells. When mice are pretreated with cyclophosphamide before immunization or irradiated 2 days before transfer, the lymph node and spleen cells taken on day 9 after immunization transfer contact sensitivity. In contrast the same number of cells from untreated mice were inactive. This suggests that the cells which mediate passive transfer or their precursors may occur in an inhibited form in lymph nodes and spleen at later times after immunization. These suppressor cells in immune mice differ from the T suppressor cells produced by the injection of picryl sulphonic acid--an agent which causes unresponsiveness: (1) the precursors of the T suppressor cells resist cyclophosphamide; (2) the T suppressor cells are found in mice treated so as to produce unresponsiveness while the other type of suppressor cells occurs in mice immunized for contact sensitivity. However, both types of suppressor cells are selectively inactivated by irradiation as compared with the cells which mediate contact sensitivity and both are able to act on the effector stage of contact sensitivity.     

Cutaneous Delayed Type Hypersensitivity in SCID Mice Adoptively Transferred with Lymphocytes is B Cell Independent and H-2 Restricted

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice are largely devoid of functional T and B lymphocytes but have normal antigen presenting cell (APC) capacity. The authors have examined the requirements for cutaneous delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in SCID recipients by i.p. transfer of freshly isolated naive mature T cells or non-fractionated spleen cells of H-2 compatible or incompatible origin. Recipient SCID mice were epicutaneously sensitized with oxazolone (OXA) within 24 h after cell transfer. SCID mice injected with as few as 10⁵ H-2 compatible BALB/c (H-2^d) spleen cells were able to mount DTH ear swelling reaction upon sensitization and challenge with OXA. Non-fractionated spleen cells from H-2 incompatible B6 or NZW mice were also able to restore DTH capacity in SCID recipients. However, when thymocytes were transferred, only donor mice expressing H-2^d, but not H-2^b and H-2^z, haplotype restored DTH reactivity. Serum levels of IgM and IgM anti-OXA antibodies in SCID mice 27 days post-transfer with 10⁷ BALB/c spleen cells were similar to that of intact donor mice. In contrast, specific antibodies of IgG isotype were approximately only one-tenth of that found in BALB/c controls. The results of this study show that for the development of cutaneous DTH, in SCID mice transferred with T cells, H-2 restricted APC-T cell interaction is required, whereas B cells are not mandatory. Also, SCID mice transferred with splenocytes show signs of defect immunoglobulin switch function. The authors believe that this model of DTH will be useful in delineating the effects of immunomodulatory substances in vivo on distinct host versus donor cell populations.     

The kinetics of in vivo sister chromatid exchange induction in mouse bone marrow cells by alkylating agents: cyclophosphamide

Administration of cyclophosphamide (5, 10, 20 and 25 mg/kg body weight) to male CD-1 mice 2 hr after subcutaneous implantation of a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) pellet (55 mg) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in bone marrow cells. Treatment with cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg body weight) at the time of BrdUrd implantation and 2, 6.5, and 13 hr post-BrdUrd implantation resulted in the induction of approximately 19 SCE/cell indicating that the bone marrow SCE response was independent of the time of administration. Treatment with cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg body weight) at 26, 19, 13, and 6 hr prior to BrdUrd implantation resulted in baseline SCE (3.3 SCE/cell) at 26 hr with an increasing number of SCE/cell with decreasing time prior to BrdUrd implantation. These results compare favorably with those obtained by Kram et al [1981] with mitomycin C (MMC) using a similar protocol. The time-dependent induction of SCE is qualitatively similar for CP and MMC, both of which are bifunctional alkylating agents metabolically activated by oxidation and reduction, respectively, and suggests that these two compounds may induce SCE by a similar mechanism.