Micronucleus formation in mouse bone marrow cells in vivo in response to trans, trans-muconaldehyde

Benzene is a human leukemogen, and a bone marrow toxin and carcinogen in ex perimental animals. The reactive intermediates involved in benzene toxicity and their mechanism(s) of action have not been clearly delineated. We have investigated the clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of trans,trans-muconald ehyde (MUC), a reactive ring-opened benzene metabolite, in mouse bone marro w cells in vivo. Micronucleus formation was significantly increased when CD -1 mice were treated ip with MUC at 4 and 6 mg/kg/day for two days. These r esults suggest that leukemogenesis by benzene mag; be attributable, in part . to MUC-related clastogenic and cytotoxic effects in the bone marrow cells . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.