Testing of 3 chemical compounds for aneuploidy induction in the female mouse

The 3 chemicals, 6 mercaptopurine (6-MCP), phenylalanine and para-fluorophenylalanine (pFPA) have been tested on mouse oocytes of the Swiss strain for possible aneuploidy-inducing effects. Tests were made at the dictyate stage in young and aged females and at the preovulatory (diakinesis/MI) stage in aged females only. Metaphase II chromosome complements were analysed for aneuploidy resulting from segregational errors arising at the first meiotic division. No evidence of non-disjunction was found either in treated or control groups up to the age of 40 weeks tested. The need to select for gametogenic stage and strain when using a mouse model system for aneuploidy testing, is considered.