Organotins are co-clastogens in a whole mammalian system.

The frequency of micronuclei induced by mitomycin C (MMC) in mouse peripheral reticulocytes was enhanced by treatment with organotins: bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide (TBTO) and triphenyltin chloride (TPTC). TBTO and TPTC did not themselves induce micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) in mouse peripheral blood. When 50 mg/kg TBTO or 100 mg/kg TPTC was given orally to mice simultaneously with an intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 1 mg/kg MMC, however, TBTO and TPTC caused about 55% and 51% increases, respectively, in MMC-induced a synergistic MNRET frequency. Organotin administration 3 or 6 h before and 3 h after MMC injection also caused enhancement of MNRET frequency. These results demonstrate that TBTO and TPTC act as co-clastogens in a whole mammalian system.