Busulphan-induced chromosomal aberrations in intestinal cells of Chinese hamster

Chinese hamsters were given Busulphan, 25 and 50 mg/kg bw. After 18 h, chromosomes of the lining cells of the upper intestinal tract were prepared according to a newly developed method. The aberration rate was enhanced by a factor of about 25 after 25 mg/kg, but 50 mg/kg bw did not induce higher aberration rates. In the same animals the dose-dependent aberration rates were also determined in bone-marrow cells. Furthermore, the formation of SCEs in intestinal cells was observed. In a preliminary experiment, metaphase plates from intestinal cells of mice were prepared, too.