The mutagenic potential of acetonitrile in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of the mouse

Acetonitrile was tested for its ability to induce clastogenic or aneugenic effects through the induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in mouse bone marrow and peripheral blood. Groups of NMRI mice, fiv e males and five females, were administered a single i.p. dose of acetonitr ile, corresponding to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), 100 or 125 mg/kg bo dy wt for males and females, respectively. Bone marrow was sampled at 18, 2 4 or 36 h after treatment, while peripheral blood was sampled before and 24 , 48, 72 and 96 h after treatment. Positive controls were administered cycl ophosphamide (65 mg/kg i.p.). Acetonitrile did not increase the incidence o f MNPCE in either bone marrow or peripheral blood in male mice or in periph eral blood in females. A small, but statistically significant (P < 0.05), i ncrease was observed in female bone marrow 36 h after administration, but s ince this was within the range of the control data it is not considered to be of biological significance. Cyclophosphamide increased the incidence of MNPCE in bone marrow and peripheral blood of both sexes. It is concluded th at acetonitrile is neither clastogenic nor aneugenic in the bone marrow of the mouse at the MTD.