title: Synaptonemal complex damage in mouse spermatocytes exposed to tequila and brandy.
abstract: We evaluated the capacity of tequila and brandy to induce synaptonemal complex (SC) breaks in mouse spermatocytes. The alcoholic beverages were 20% diluted in distilled water and administered daily by oral intubation for 21 days (1, 2, and 3 g/kg, six animals per group). A positive control group was administered cyclophosphamide (CP) (20 mg/kg), and another group of mice was treated with distilled water. The results indicated the following: (i) tequila induced a statistically significant increase in SC damage with 2 g/kg and 3 g/kg, and brandy was genotoxic only with 3 g/kg, (ii) CP induced almost a duplication of the total number of breaks produced by tequila or brandy; (iii) the average weight increase in the animals was 3.3 g, but the group treated with the highest dose of tequila showed a slight weight decrease; (iv) the weight of the testes did not show any significant difference among groups of animals; and (v) there were no significant differences between groups with respect to the frequency of pachytenes (mean number: 195 in 1000 cells).
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, National School of Biological Sciences, I.P.N., Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piña-Calva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quezada-Medina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Madrigal-Bujaidar
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure