Prevention and/or reversibility by colchicine of genetic damage induced by gamma-radiation in the germ cells of mice: possible relevance to prostaglandin involvement.

Gamma radiation, known to produce genetic damage in both somatic and germ cells of experimental animals and man, can also block thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) synthesis. In this communication evidence is presented that colchicine, a known TXA2 and PGE1 synthesis stimulator, can suppress the genetic damage induced in the germ cells of mice by gamma radiation. This evidence lends support to the hypothesis that an altered PG system could be responsible for mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.