The anticlastogenic effect of tocopherol in peritoneal macrophages of benznidazole-treated and ovariectomized mice

Cytogenetic studies revealed a significant increase in the frequency of structural chromosome aberrations of peritoneal macrophages from hyperimmune Swiss mice after ovariectomy. The administration of the nitroarene benznidazole caused a large number of chromosomal deletions in peritoneal macrophages of sham-ovariectomized animals. The clastogenic effect of benznidazole was much greater in peritoneal macrophages of ovariectomized mice. The anti-oxidant alpha-tocopherol protected the peritoneal macrophages from developing ovariectomy- or benznidazole-induced chromosomal aberrations, thus suggesting free radical damage in these processes.