Studies on the ability of hypotonic solutions to induce chromosomal aberrations in V 79 cells.

V 79 hamster cells were exposed to hypotonic culture medium or to hypotonic solutions of ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, or trishydroxymethylaminomethane. Hypotonic treatment led in all experiments to a clear increase of chromosomal aberrations. Reasons for the aberrations observed may be directly induced DNA damage such as double strand breaks or a release of DNase after lysosomal damage because of the hypotonic treatment. Other reasons involved in the aberration production may be changes of the internal pH or damage of the chromosomal proteins.