Studies on the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells by various tobacco alkaloids.

Of five tobacco alkaloids tested, only anatabine led to a dose-dependent enhancement of the number of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO). Nicotine and nornicotine at high concentrations increased the baseline frequency of SCEs moderately. Anabasine and myosmine had no influence on the spontaneous frequency of SCEs.