title: The induction of aneuploidy by nitrogen mustard in a human lymphoblastoid cell line.
abstract: We report that the presence of an extra Y chromosome can be used as a marker for the induction of aneuploidy (mitotic non-disjunction) in a human lymphoblastoid cell line. This endpoint is easily visualized in metaphase chromosome preparations after staining with quinacrine mustard. The induction of cells with two Y chromosomes by nitrogen mustard (NM) was examined. Exposure to 150 ng/ml nitrogen mustard induced a 6-fold increase in aneuploid frequency relative to untreated control levels; maximal induction of aneuploidy was observed 2 days after treatment. Lower concentrations of nitrogen mustard (36 and 75 ng/ml) induced smaller increases in aneuploid frequency, with maximal induction observed 1 day after treatment. This system has the potential to be used as an assay for the induction of aneuploidy in cultured human cells.
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008677:Metaphase; D014998:Y Chromosome
chemical_list: D008466:Mechlorethamine