Chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow cells and antibody production changes induced by long-term exposure to...

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and the primary immne response to sheep erythrocytes were studied at weekly intervals in mice exposed to cyclophosphamide (0.01% or 0.02% concentration in drinking water) and/or alpha-tocopherol(1000 mg/kg intraperitoneally, twice a week) throughout 4 weeks. Both 0.01% and 0.02% CY concentrations induced approximately the same levels of aberrant cells (7.5 and 9.2%, respectively). No significant rise in the frequency of aberrant cells was observed during the four-week course of experiment. The lower (0.01%) concentration of CY significantly increased IgM haemagglutinin titres, while IgG titres decreased rapidly after 3 weeks of exposure; 0.02% CY suppressed almost completely both IgM and IgG antibody levels already after one week of treatment. Simultaneous application of alpha-tocopherol significantly increased the frequency of aberrant cells in 0.01% Cy-treated mice but had no effect on 0.02% CY-treated group. No considerable changes in antibody titres were induced by alpha-tocopherol in both CY-treated and untreated animals.