CYTOGENETIC CHANGES IN BONE-MARROW CELLS OF WISTAR RATS INDUCED BY LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE

''Levamisol'' is an antiparasitic drug produced by ICN-Galenika (Yugos lavia). This anthelmintic was cytogenetically analyzed in vivo in an e xperiment on three groups of Wistar rats. The control group of rats wa s treated with saline. Experimental animals were injected intraperiton eally with two therapeutic doses of the anthelmintic (2,2 mg levamisol e hydrochloride/kg b. w. and 4,4 mg levamisole hydrochloride/kg b.w.) during a seven day treatment period. Cytogenetic changes of bone marro w cells were evaluated by determination of their mitotic index, as wel l as structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations. Both tested dos es of the anthelmintic induced an increase of mitotic index, aneuploid y, polyploidy and structural chromosomal changes of the break and inse rtion type of lesion. Insertions were observed on the first pair of au tosomes.