Vitamin C mediated amelioration of pesticide genotoxicity in murine spermatocytes.

The effect of vitamin C on the genotoxicity of three pesticides (Endosulfan, Phosphamidon, Mancozeb) was monitored by screening meiotic (metaphase I) chromosomes in the primary spermatocytes of Swiss albino mice, Mus musculus. A dose-dependent amelioration by vitamin C was observed in the Phosphamidon-treated group where quadruple the therapeutic dose produced maximum amelioration. In Endosulfan- and Mancozeb-treated groups, no further amelioration was achieved beyond the double dose of vitamin C, and the damage frequency did not come down to the control level. The possible mechanism of this effect is discussed.