[Clastogenicity of ethyl methanesulfonate and dimethyl terephthalate in the micronucleus test and ways for its...

In the mouse transplacental test, EMS induced micronuclei and disturbed haemopoiesis in female bone marrow and foetal liver. Dimethyl terephthalate at the tested dose was ineffective in pregnant females increasing however the level of these events in foetuses. Hence, both the alkylating agent and the phthalate derivative penetrate placenta and are dangerous for embryos. The 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative (DHP) decreased the EMS-induced micronucleus frequency in pregnant female somatic cells but it was inefficient in fetuses and did not influence the DMtP effects. The typical dependence of its protective action on the physiological status of organism was revealed. This indicates that the antimutagen inhibits the clastogenesis by the induction or stimulation of endogenous components responsible for antioxidant defense and/or neutralization of electrophilic molecules.