Studies of the genotoxicity of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)

The following experiments were conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effects of GMA (glycidyl methacrylate) on mammalian and human cells. (1) Using the absorption spectrum shift method in vitro, we observed that the maximums of calf thymus DNA and GMA were shifted toward longer wavelengths (a change of more than 15 nm) and the absorbance decreased after incubation at room temperature for 15 min or more. The result indicates that binding of DNA and GMA had occurred. The binding force is strong, not affected by the addition of concentrated sodium chloride solution, and only slightly decreased by the addition of 8 M urea solution. Therefore the bond between DNA and GMA might be covalent. (2) In cell cultures, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in human and/or rat lymphocyte was induced and DNA semiconservative replication was inhibited by GMA at concentrations of less than 5.2 mM. (3) Sperm abnormality tests and assays of UDS in germ cells of male mice were conducted to study the in vivo genotoxicity of GMA. The results revealed that GMA could damage DNA, increase sperm abnormality frequency, and reduce the number of sperm cells.