ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEXES WITH BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES .3. IN-VIVO CYTOTOXICITY OF DIORGANOTIN(IV)CHLORO AND TRIORGANOTIN(IV)CHLORO DERIVATIVESOF PENICILLIN-G ON CHROMOSOMES OF APHANIUS-FASCIATUS (PISCES, CYPRINODONTIFORMES)

In order to obtain a continuous source of mitotic metaphases, gill tis sue of Aphanius fasciatus (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes) has been succes sfully employed. Results gathered after exposure of fish to R2SnClpenG , R3SnClpenGNa, to the parents R2SnCl2, R3SnCl and to penGNa (penGNa = penicillinGNa; R = methyl, butyl and phenyl) suggest that both the pa rent organotin(IV)chloride and organotin(IV)chloropenG derivatives are toxic while penGNa exerts no significant toxic activity. Essentially, all of the chromosome abnormalities are classifiable as irregularly s taining of chromosomes, breakages, side-arm bridges or pseudochiasmata .