title: Genotoxicity studies with four organophosphorus insecticides using the unstable white-zeste system of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate the suitability of the unstable white-zeste system in Drosophila melanogaster by testing 4 organophosphorus insecticides for potential genotoxic activity: dimethoate, fenitrothion, malathion, and methyl parathion. In view of the high sensitivity to insecticides of the unstable zeste strain used in this assay and the negative results obtained in this work, the white-zeste system does not appear to be sufficiently accurate for the evaluation of the mutagenic potential of specifically toxic chemicals, like insecticides.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004117:Dimethoate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D005278:Fenitrothion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000187:drug effects; D008294:Malathion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008743:Methyl Parathion / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010278:Parathion / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D008743:Methyl Parathion; D010278:Parathion; D008294:Malathion; D004117:Dimethoate; D005278:Fenitrothion