Cm. Andrews et al., LONG-TERM HEMATOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN FEMALE B6C3F(1) MICE TREATED WITH BUSULFAN, Comparative haematology international, 8(3), 1998, pp. 125-136
Female B6C3F(1) mice (12-14 weeks old) were dosed with busulphan (BU)
by the intraperitoneal route at dose levels between 10 and 40 mg/kg on
four occasions at 14 day intervals. Six weeks after the final dose, m
ice were given normal drinking water or drinking water containing chlo
ramphenicol succinate (CAPS) at 4 mg/ml. Animals were killed at eight
timepoints after the final BU dose, the last samples being taken at da
y 485 or 497 and a range of haematological parameters measured. During
the experiment, no differences could be detected between mice receivi
ng BU and CAPS and those receiving BU alone. Animals surviving to the
end of the study displayed moderate leucopenia but no reduction in mar
row cellularity nor was any effect on erythropoiesis apparent. Lymphoc
yte numbers were reduced in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and sple
nic cellularity was also reduced. Increased mortality was seen in anim
als which had received 40 mg BU/kg. In the first four months after BU
dosing, animals killed due to ill health were pancytopenic with hypoce
llular marrows; deaths that occurred thereafter were due to lymphoma.