CADMIUM CHLORIDE INDUCES DOSE-DEPENDENT INCREASES IN THE FREQUENCY OFMICRONUCLEI IN MOUSE BONE-MARROW

The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MPCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (MNCE) was studied in Swiss albino mice tr eated with 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight o f cadmium chloride. It was observed that cadmium chloride induced a do se-dependent increase in the frequency of MPCE and MNCE. However, this increase was significant only after treatment with 0.05 mg/kg of CdCl 2 (MPCE). The polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/ NCE ratio) declined with the increase in CdCl2 dose and this depletion was dose-dependent. A significant decline was observed only after 0.2 5 mg/kg CdCl2. The dose-response relationship for all three parameters was linear-quadratic.