Aging and sister chromatid exchange. IV. Reduced frequencies of mutagen-induced sister chromatid exchanges in vivo in mouse bone marrow cells with aging.

Induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE's) was examined in bone marrow cells of young and old C57BL/6J mice exposed to three different DNA-damaging agents (cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C, and doxorubicin). At low concentrations of all three mutagens, the levels of induced SCE's were similar in young and old cell populations. However, at higher mutagen concentrations, SCE induction was significantly reduced in old cell populations. Studies of mice aged 5 to 32 months revealed that induced SCE frequencies remain stable during early adulthood (5 to 12 months) and then begin to decline as a function of age. These results indicate that with aging there exists a gradual alteration of cellular response to DNA damage.