THE ACTION OF THE HERBICIDE PARAQUAT ON SOMATIC AND GERM-CELLS OF MICE

The genotoxic potential of paraquat was evaluated in mouse somatic (bo ne marrow) and germ (spermatozoa) cells. Two exposure schedules were c onducted: single and multiple treatment. Only for multiple treatment w as an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations observed. In germ cells, paraquat induced an increase of sperm-shape abnormalities when the animals were treated at three stages of cell development: spermat ozoa, spermatid and preleptotene spermatogonial cells. These toxicogen etic effects might be attributed to the ability of paraquat to generat e oxygen free radicals.