Micronucleus test with procarbazine hydrochloride administered by intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage

The difference in effect of route of administration of procarbazine hydrochloride (PCZ) in the mouse was investigated in the micronucleus test. PCZ was administered by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and oral administration (p.o.) to 2 strains of male mice (MS/Ae and CD-1). On the basis of a small-scale acute toxicity test and a pilot micronucleus test, bone marrow preparations were prepared 24 h after the administration by the i.p. and p.o. routes of 50-400 mg/kg and 200-1600 mg/kg, respectively. The maximum incidence of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei (MNPCEs) was somewhat higher after p.o. treatment in MS/Ae mice and the same with both routes in CD-1 mice. Thus, the clastogenicity of PCZ in mouse bone marrow was revealed by both routes.