An analysis of meiotic chromosomes of inbred male mice and their F1 sons after long-term treatment of sires with triethylenemelamine.

The dose-dependent effects of triethylenemelamine (TEM) on fertility and the induction of chromosomal translocation in treated mice and their F1 sons were examined C3H mice were treated with TEM for 8 successive weeks at doses of 0.02 and 0.04 mg/kg of body weight. All males treated with TEM were fertile,and cytological analysis of meiotic cells showed no chromosomal rearrangements. Semi-sterility and sterility were noted in F1 sons of TEM-treated animals. This semi-sterility and sterility were associated with reciprocal translocations. The percentage of animals heterozygous for translocations was higher for F1 males originating from sires treated with TEM at 0.04 mg/kg than from sires treated with 0.02 mg/kg.