EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSES OF VITAMIN-C AND VITAMIN-E AGAINST DOXORUBICIN-INDUCED CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE IN WISTAR RAT BONE-MARROW CELLS

Doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the major antitumoral agents available for clinical use. In addition to intercalating into the DNA molecule, thi s drug generates free radicals. Vitamins C (VC) and E (VE) can protect normal cells from the damage caused by radicals without interfering w ith the cytotoxicity of DXR against tumors. The objective of the prese nt study was to investigate the possible protective effect of VC and/o r VE on mammalian cells treated with DXR in vivo. Animals treated with the lowest doses of VC and/or VE, alone or in combination, plus a sin gle dose of DXR presented a statistically significant reduction in tot al number of chromosome aberrations and in number of abnormal metaphas es. The highest vitamin doses tested caused no changes in the paramete rs analyzed when compared with control. Under the present experimental conditions, the efficiency of VC and/or VE in protecting against chro mosome damage was dependent on the dose used. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.