Micronucleation in the lens epithelium following in vivo exposure to physical and chemical mutagens.
Rats were exposed to cataractogenic doses of known physical and chemical genotoxic agents in order to study the efficacy of using micronuclei to monitor mutagenicity in the lens epithelium.  The total numbers of micronuclei were counted in lens epithelia from rats exposed to graded doses of either 250 kVp X-rays or the anti-leukemic drug, 1,4 dimethanesulfonoxybutane (Myleran (R)).  The results indicate a dose-dependent incidence of micronucleation in the lens epithelium following exposure.  The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the cataractogenicity of certain agents may be related to their effect on the genome of lens epithelial cells.
Odrich
S
S
College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, Department of Ophthalmology, New York 10032, USA.
Medvedovsky
C
C
Merriam
G R
GR
Worgul
B V
BV
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D002066:Busulfan; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide