Micronuclei induction by carboplatin in human lymphocyte subpopulations

Micronuclei (MN) induction by carboplatin, cis-diammine-1,1-cyclobutane decarboxylate platinum (II) (CBDCA), in B and T lymphocytes was studied by the MAC (morphology/antibody/chromosome) method which allows the immunologic identification of different cell lineages. An increased frequency of MN in B and T lymphocytes in CBDCA-treated cultures compared with controls was observed (p < 0.001). CBD cells were found to be more sensitive to CBDCA damage. CBDCA-treated cultures showed a decrease, albeit statistically non-significant, in the proportion of CBD interphasic and mitotic cells. Furthermore, higher MN frequencies in isolated lymphocytes than in whole blood in both control and CBDCA-treated cultures were observed.