Production of DNA single strand breaks in rabbit renal tissue after exposure to 1,2-dichlorovinylcysteine.

S-(trans-1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) is a recognized nephrotoxin. To investigate the genotoxic effects of DCVC on the kidney, DNA strand breaks were measured as an indicator of DCVC induced damage. To ascertain if bioactivation of DCVC occurred in the kidney, 3 experimental systems were used: in vivo; isolated perfused kidneys; and isolated proximal tubules of albino male rabbits. A dose-dependent increase in strand breaks in the kidney tubular DNA occurred after in vivo dosing with 5-100 mg/kg DCVC and after in vitro exposure to 10(-5)-10(-2) M DCVC. These results demonstrate the genotoxic effect of this compound on renal tissue.