USE OF CHICK, GALLUS-DOMESTICUS, AS AN IN-VIVO MODEL FOR THE STUDY OFCHROMOSOME ABERRATION - A STUDY WITH MITOMYCIN-C AND PROBABLE LOCATION OF A HOT-SPOT

A model bone marrow chromosome aberration test using the chick, Gallus domesticus, is described. The well known reference mutagen mitomycin C was used as the test chemical. Bone marrow chromosomal preparations were investigated after acute (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0 mg/kg b.w.) doses for dose-response and sub-acute (0.4 mg/kg/day, 5 days) doses fo r chronic studies. Only a single dose (2 mg/kg b.w.) was employed for time-response (6, 24 and 48 h) and route-response (i.p. and p.o.) stud ies. All the treated results differed significantly from the respectiv e control value. The present results also revealed the location of a ' hot spot' in chromosome 4. The test is less expensive, more sensitive and reliable and easier than mouse model. This chick mutagenicity test model can be used as an alternative in vivo system for testing the mu tagenicity of environmental pollutants.