Chromosomal aberrations in tracheal epithelial cells of the fetal Syrian golden hamster after transplacental N-diethylnitrosamine administration.

Transplacental effect of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) on chromosomal morphology, was investigated in fetal tracheal epithelium of Syrian hamsters. At the 15th day of pregnancy, Syrian golden hamsters were injected subcutaneously with a tumorigenic dose of DEN (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt). Two hours later, the fetal tracheae were isolated, epithelial cells of the respiratory mucosa were separated from mesenchymal tissue and were transferred to cell culture. At 24, 48 and 72 h after cultivation, chromosomal damages were examined. The results showed clearly that a high incidence of chromosomal aberrations, particularly chromatid-type exchanges, were seen in the epithelial cells from DEN-treated groups.