Sister chromatid exchanges induced by tertiary butyl hydroquinone in bone marrow cells of mice

Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)--a phenolic antioxidant, was evaluated by assessing the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in bone marrow metaphase cells of mice. Six concentrations, 0.5, 2, 20, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, of TBHQ were injected intraperitoneally. A positive dose-response effect in the SCE frequency was observed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Two mg/kg of TBHQ was found to be the minimum effective dose. Study of the cell-cycle kinetics showed a delay in cell cycle induced by the higher concentrations of TBHQ. Thus, TBHQ was found to be a DNA damage-inducing agent and also a cytotoxic chemical in vivo in mice.