THE RELATION BETWEEN PROTEIN-MALNUTRITION, ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION AND CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE-INDUCED BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE IN BONE-MARROW CELLS OF MICE

The effect of protein malnutrition and alcohol consumption on the yiel d of chromosomal damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) was studied. Chromosomal damage induced in bone marrow cells of BALB/c mice was est ablished by scoring the frequency of dicentric chromosomes in C-banded slides. Results obtained showed that CP induced a significant increas e of. chromosomal damage in comparison with untreated mice. In additio n, the yield of dicentric chromosomes was higher in mice fed with the hypoproteic diet. The animals which received ethanol in drinking water before treatment with CP exhibited the highest frequency of dicentric chromosomes, with no relation with the diet. Statistical analysis of these results showed the additive effect of diet and CP and are explai ned taking into account the metabolic pathways of CP as well as the de crease of enzymatic levels and the physiological condition in under-no urished mice.