The influence of DDT analogues (nuarimol and fenarimol) on the frequency of occurrence of micronuclei in erythrocytes of bone marrow and spleen in mice]

The clastogenic potential of the two DDT analogues: fenarimol and nuarimol was investigated, and the usefulness of the mouse spleen cells for this purpose was evaluated. Nuarimol and fenarimol were administered per o to 8-10 weeks old male mice (Swiss) according to the following protocol: nuarimol 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. and fenarimol 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w. twice during 24 hours. Mitomycin C (2 and 4 mg/kg b.w.) and cyclophosphamide (25 and 75 mg/kg b.w.) were administered to the positive control mice. After 30, 48, 72 hours following the first administration the animals were killed and the number of micronuclei were calculated in spleen and bone marrow polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes. The results show that the spleen could be regarded as an appropriate tissue for the evaluation of micronuclei induction. Fenarimol and nuarimol did not cause micronuclei induction in the bone marrow and spleen erythrocytes.