title: Sister chromatid exchange induction by the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in chick embryos.
abstract: As genetic damage may result from exposure to agricultural chemicals, it seemed appropriate to assess the genotoxic potential of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a widely used broad-leaf herbicide, using a test system that may provide some indications on the genetic risk to animal species in the wild. In the present study, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induction and cell cycle kinetics alterations by 2,4-D in 4-day old chick embryos were evaluated. Both a commercial herbicide formulation containing 37% 2,4-D isooctyl ester as active ingredient and pure 2,4-D were tested. Chick embryos were treated with 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg 2,4-D. Test solutions were applied to the inner shell membrane on day 0 of incubation. Either commercial formulation or pure 2,4-D induced a dose-related increase in SCE frequency over the concentration range from 0 to 4 mg/embryo. Significantly higher SCE frequency was seen for the 4-mg group of embryos treated with the commercial product. A slightly higher SCE value was observed for the vehicle group (acetone-treated embryos) compared with the negative controls (untreated embryos). Significant inhibition of cell cycle progression was evident in both experimental groups and was generally dose related. The extent of changes in cell kinetics was similar in both groups, although somewhat more marked in the group treated with pure 2,4-D. The present findings corroborate the positive results from recent in vivo rodent studies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan, Italy. elio.arias@unimi.it
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid