title: Chromosome aberrations, micronucleus and sperm head abnormalities in mice treated with natamycin, [corrected] a food preservative.
abstract: Natamycin [corrected] is used as preservative in foods. The genotoxic effects of the food preservative natamycin [corrected] were evaluated using chromosome aberrations and micronucleus test in bone marrow cells and sperm head abnormality assays in mice. Blood samples were taken from mice and levels of total testosterone in serum were also determined. Natamycin [corrected] was intraperitoneally (ip) injected at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg. Natamycin [corrected] did not induce chromosome aberrations but significantly increased the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow and sperm head abnormalities at all concentrations and treatment periods. It also decreased MI at all concentrations for 6, 12 and 24h treatment periods. Natamycin [corrected] decreased PCE/NCE ratio at all concentrations for 48h in female mice, for 24 and 48h treatment periods in male mice. At the 800 mg/kg concentration, natamycin [corrected] decreased PCE/NCE ratio for 24 and 72h in female mice. A dose dependent increase was observed in the percentage of sperm head abnormalities. The levels of serum testosterone decreased dose-dependently. The obtained results indicate that natamycin [corrected] is not clastogenic, but it is aneugenic in mice bone marrow and it is a potential germ cell mutagen in sperm cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey. pinargoc@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Pinar Goc
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rasgele
authors.forename: Fisun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaymak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009153:Mutagens; D010866:Natamycin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005520:Food Preservatives; D009153:Mutagens; D013739:Testosterone; D010866:Natamycin