FLUCHLORALIN IS CYTOTOXIC AND GENOTOXIC AND INDUCES APOPTOSIS IN MAMMALIAN-CELLS

The genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of a widely used herbicide, fluchl oralin, were assessed using cultured mammalian cells. Treatment of cel ls for 8-12 hr with fluchloralin resulted in a significant increase in the Frequency of metaphase cells with chromosomal damage. At higher c oncentrations, the herbicide also induced an increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchange. A 50% loss in viability was observed wh en cells were exposed to the herbicide for 72 hr. To understand the me chanism of cell death caused by fluchloralin, its effect on DNA synthe sis and its ability to induce apoptosis were investigated. Even short (6 hr) treatment of cells with fluchloralin resulted in a 30-50% inhib ition of DNA synthesis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from herbic ide-treated cells and cytochemical staining indicate the induction of apoptosis by fluchloralin. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.