Chromosomal aberrations in rats fed irradiated wheat.

The effects on chromosomal aberrations in bone-marrow cells of feeding irradiated wheat to well-fed and malnourished rats were investigated. Rats maintained on low levels of dietary protein (5 per cent) had a higher incidence of breaks and deletions in their bone-marrow chromosomes compared with rats maintained on adequate levels of protein (18 per cient), showing that the level of dietary protein per se can produce structural abnormalities. Feeding of irradiated wheat to rats was associated with increase in the number of polyploid cells in the bone-marrow. The level of protein in the diet did not appear to influence polyploidy.