Cytogenetic effect of some anti-tuberculosis drugs in vitro.

The comparative cytogenetic effects of some widely used anti-tuberculosis drugs (PAS Na, PRA, RMA) were estimated depending on the in vitro administered concentrations, in human peripheral blood cultures. The structural chromosomal lesions were randomly distributed between the different chromosome groups of the human karyotype; nearly 10 to 30% of affected cells had more than one lesion per metaphase. In the treatements with PAS Na and PRA the analysis of the frequencies of the cell carring chromosomal aberrations and of the chromosomal lesion types indicated a dose-response correlation. The significance of the results obtained in vitro on the chromosome-breaking effects of anti-tuberculosis agents and the genetic peril is pointed out.