Induction of chromosome aberrations, micronucleus formation and sperm abnormalities in mouse following carbofuran exposure

Carbofuran was tested to study in vivo cytogenetic effects in mouse bone ma rrow cells and morphological alterations in sperms. The acute oral and intr aperitoneal (i.p.) LD50 of carbofuran was determined to be 9.5 or 2.0 mg/kg b.w. in mice, respectively. The animals were orally administered 1.9, 3.8 or 5.7 mg/kg b.w. (20, 40 and 60% of LD50) of carbofuran for 24 h or 1.9 mg /kg b.w. for 4 consecutive days (cumulative 7.6 mg/kg or 80% of LD50) to an alyse chromosome aberrations (CAs). For micronucleus test (MT) animals were orally exposed to 5.7 mg/kg b.w. for 24 and 48 h or 1.9 mg/kg b.w. for 4 c onsecutive days. For reference mice were exposed to peanut oil (negative co ntrol) and cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg) or ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS: 100 mg/kg) positive control for CAs and MT respectively. To analyse the effect on sperm morphology mice were exposed to single i.p. dose of 1 and 2 mg/kg b.w, of carbofuran and repeatedly to 0.5 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. Cyto genetic analysis revealed that all the test doses Induced mitotic inhibitio n, CAs, micronucleus (MN) formation and sperm abnormalities in a dose depen dent manner. Present observations concurrent with earlier reports substanti ate the genotoxic potential of carbofuran and possible risk to human beings . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.