[Molecular-biological effect of thallium carbonate].

The action of thallium carbonate (Tl2CO3) on rat embryonic cells was evaluated in accordance with the criterion for the formation of DNA breaks and chromosome aberrations, survival and mutagenicity of smallpox vaccine virus in these cells and on the basis of the frequency of dominant mutations in rats. Tl2CO3 produces DNA breaks whose restoration during 24 hours postincubation depends on the agent concentration. As the survival of smallpox vaccine virus exposed to Tl2CO3 decreases by a factor of 10(1) the virus mutagenicity rises 3fold. Tl2CO3 also possesses marked mutagenic activity as measured from the formation of chromosome aberrations. In the course of Tl2CO3 poisoning of males (for 8 months), followed by mating with intact females, there was a tendency to the increased total embryonic lethiality.