Streptozotocin-induced chromosomal aberrations, SCEs and mutations in CHO-9 parental cells and in EM-C11 mutant cell line.

The genotoxic effects induced by the monofunctional nitrosourea derivative streptozotocin (STZ) were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary cells, parental (CHO-9) and its mutant hypersensitive to alkylating agents, designated EM-C11. The ability of this compound to induce chromosomal aberrations, cell killing, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and mutations was evaluated on these two cell lines. The mutant cells were found to be slightly more sensitive to the killing effects of STZ than the parental cell line. EM-C11 cells also showed higher levels of STZ-induced chromosomal aberrations than CHO-9 cells, but appeared to be equally sensitive to induction of SCEs. The frequencies of STZ-induced mutations, measured as resistant Na+/K(+)-ATPase and HPRT mutants, revealed a higher sensitivity of EM-C11 to the mutagenic effects of this compound.