Sex-related differences in cytogenetic effects of benzene in the bone marrow of Swiss mice.

Two routes of administration-intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage-and two methods of analysis-direct metaphase preparations and the micronucleus test-were used to investigate the cytogenetic effects of benzene exposure in the bone marrow of female and male Swiss (CD-1) mice. The males demonstrated higher mean frequencies of metaphase aberrations and micronuclei after both routes of administration. The frequencies of metaphase aberrations appeared to be sex-related and independent of the route of exposure, however, while the frequencies of micronuclei appeared to be dependent upon both the sex of the animals and the route of administration.