Transplacental and direct exposure of mouse and marmoset to ethylnitrosourea: analysis of chromosome aberrations.

The effect of ethylnitrosourea (ENU) on chromosomes of mouse bone marrow cells and transplacentally exposed embryonic liver cells was investigated. Chromosome aberrations were found to be dose- and time-dependent. The maximum damage was seen 6 h after the exposure. Chromosome aberrations were also induced in bone marrow cells and lymphocytes of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) directly exposed to ENU. Aberrations did not, however, occur in offspring whose mothers were treated with ENU before conception. Furthermore, chronic transplacentally exposed offspring have been analyzed. The frequency of chromosome aberrations was not increased in their lymphocytes and fibroblasts. The elimination of chromosome aberrations during embryogenesis is discussed.