[Cytogenetic effects of toxic metal salts on apical meristem cells of Allium cepa L. seed roots].

Comparative analysis of the influence of the salts of Cd, Pb, Ni, Al, Cu and Zn at concentrations 10(-6)-10(-3) M on cytogenetic parameters of Allium cepa apical meristem cells was carried out. It was shown that these metal compounds could induce both the clastogenic and the aneugenic effects (including mitosis and cytokinesis disturbances). Based on ability to cause the chromosome aberrations the metal salts were arranged in such row of genotoxicity: ZnSO4 > Pb(CH3COO)2 > Al(NO3)3 approximately NiSO4 > CdCl2 > CuSO4. The investigated compounds of cadmium, lead, nickel and aluminum were found to be more effective aneugens than clastogens. According to our data NiSO4 had the strongest antimitotic activity (it increased the percentage of chromosome lagging of, multipolar anaphases, C-mitoses in 69.6 times, compared to the control). The ability of other metal salts to induce such abnormalities decreased in the range: CdCl2 > Al(NO3)3 > Pb(CH3COO)2 > CuSO4 > ZnSO4. Increasing of binuclear cells on the slides was revealed after treatment by all tested substances, however Ni sulfate was found as the strongest inducer of cytokinesis abnormalities. Presented results allowed to suggest that cytoskeleton could be a cell target for salts of some metals (especially for NiSO4).