[The effect of antioxidants on the formation of ethylmethane sulfonate-induced chromosomal breaks in relation to the maternal repair systems in Drosophila melanogaster].

The features of EMS-induced chromosomal breakage formation and the modes of its modification by the Drosophila repair systems were studied. The storage of mutagenized spermatozoa in female receptacula seminis is accompanied by accumulation of chromosomal breaks. Transformation of primary DNA lesions to structural chromosomal mutations was found to be regulated by the maternal repair systems. Treating the females with 1,4-dihydroisonicotinic acid derivatives and potassium salt of phenozane was demonstrated to reduce the frequency of EMS-induced chromosomal breakage during the whole storage period. The effects of antioxidants on maternal repair of EMS-induced endpoints were examined. Their antioxidative action seems to be displayed by inhibiting error-prone pathways of postreplication repair.