Induction of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome damage by gossypol in bone marrow cells of mice.

The chromosome-damaging potential of gossypol was evaluated by scoring sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), determining the percentage of pulverized metaphases and the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of mice. Bone marrow cells were collected approximately 21 hours after the intraperitoneal (0,20,40,80, or 160 micrograms/g) and oral (0,40,80, or 160 micrograms/g) administration of gossypol acetic acid. Irrespective of the dosing schedule (single or multiple doses), the vehicle used (physiological saline, corn oil, or 10% aqueous ethanol), and the route of administration, the mean SCE count per cell was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in gossypol-treated groups than their control counterparts. At 80 and 160 micrograms/g dose levels, the occurrence of metaphase chromosome pulverization was significantly greater, while mitotic index values were markedly lower than those of the corresponding control values. The results suggest that gossypol is a potentially mutagenic and clastogenic agent in murine bone marrow cells.