INVESTIGATION OF ANEUPLOIDY INDUCTION IN MOUSE OOCYTES FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO VINBLASTINE-SULFATE, PYRIMETHAMINE, DIETHYLSTILBESTROL DIPHOSPHATE, OR CHLORAL HYDRATE

The various causative and mechanistic phenomena associated with aneupl oidy induction require considerable investigation to better understand the etiology of chromosome missegregation. We investigated the potent ial of vinblastine sulfate, pyrimethamine, diethylstilbestrol diphosph ate, and chloral hydrate to induce numerical and structural chromosome changes in female mouse germ cells. Superovulated ICR mice were admin istered the compounds either by intraperitoneal injection or oral gava ge, and oocytes were collected and processed for cytogenetic analysis 17 hr later. Vinblastine sulfate, administered i.p., induced a signifi cant increase in the frequency of ovulated MI oocytes and of hyperploi d MII oocytes compared to controls, but did not increase the frequency of structural aberrations. Pyrimethamine, diethylstilbestrol diphosph ate, and chloral hydrate did not increase the frequency of numerical o r structural chromosome changes in female mouse germ cells. (C) 1993 W iley-Liss, Inc.