ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEXES WITH BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES .5. IN-VIVO CYTOTOXICITY OF DIORGANOTIN(IV)-AMOXICILLIN DERIVATIVES IN MITOTIC CHROMOSOMES OF RUTILUS-RUBILIO (PISCES, CYPRINIDAE)

In order to test in vivo cytotoxicity of diorganotin(IV)-amoxicillin ( amox) derivatives, mitotic chromosomes of Rutilus rubilio (Pisces, Cyp rinidae) have been analyzed using two different chromosome-staining te chniques. Results gathered after exposure of fish to the free amox . 3 H(2)O, R(2)SnClamox . 2H(2)O, and R(2)Snamox(2) . 2H(2)O (R=methyl, bu tyl and phenyl; beta-amino-p-hydroxyphenylacetamido]penicillinate) sug gest that methyl derivatives seem to exert a lower cytotoxicity than b utyl and phenyl ones and that R(2)Snamox(2) . 2H(2)O derivatives are m ore toxic than R(2)SnClamox . 2H(2)O at both 10(-5) and 10(-7) mol dm( -3) concentrations. The following structural lesions have been identif ied by comparative analysis of mitotic chromosomes from untreated spec imens (controls) and specimens treated with diorganotin(IV)-amoxicilli n derivatives: (1) differentially stained chromosome areas; (2) granul ar deeply stained zones along the chromosomal body; (3) arm breakages; and (4) side-arm bridges (pseudochiasmata).