Dmf. Salvadori et al., EFFECT OF BETA-CAROTENE ON CLASTOGENIC EFFECTS OF MITOMYCIN-C, METHYLMETHANESULFONATE AND BLEOMYCIN IN CHINESE-HAMSTER OVARY CELLS, Mutagenesis, 9(1), 1994, pp. 53-57
The effect of beta-carotene on the frequencies of micronuclei (MN) ind
uced in cytochalasin blocked binucleated Chinese hamster ovary cells (
CHO) by a bifunctional alkylating agent mitomycin C (MMC), a monofunct
ional alkylating agent methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) and a radio-mime
tic agent bleomycin (BLEO) was investigated. Four different modes of a
pplication of the combination of clastogens and beta-carotene were exa
mined (pre-treatment, simultaneous treatment, pre- + simultaneous trea
tment and post-treatment). The results obtained showed no effect of be
ta-carotene on the frequencies of MN induced by MMS, a slight but not
statistically significant reduction of MMC-induced MN only when beta-c
arotene was used in low concentrations (0.25 and 0.5 mu M) and a poten
tiation of the clastogenicity of bleomycin by beta-carotene in three o
f the treatment regimes utilized, post-treatment being ineffective. On
the basis of these results it can be concluded that the effect of bet
a-carotene on clastogenesis induced by chemicals depends on the type a
nd mechanism of action of the clastogen used as well as the treatment
protocol employed.