Cytogenetic examination of bone marrow cells and peripheral lymphocytes in rats exposed to cyclophosphamide.

The sensitivity of the peripheral lymphocytes and bone marrow cells to the induction of chromosome aberrations was studied in rats using a model mutagen Cyclophosphamide. In the acute-exposure experiment the rats were treated with CY by the intraperitoneal injection of 10, 20, and 40 mg.kg-1 b.w. A clear-cut dose-dependence was found in the frequency of aberrant cells as well as in the values of breaks per cell in both analysed cell types. In the chronic experimental series CY was administered to animals in drinking water for 28 days as 0.001%, 0.002%, 0.004%, and 0.008% CY. CY increased the frequency of aberrant metaphases and breaks per cell depending on its concentration identically in the peripheral lymphocytes and bone marrow cells. The results of acute and chronic exposures indicate that both somatic tissue cells are equally susceptible to the clastogenic action of CY.