Low dose genotoxicity of 4-bromo-n,n-diethyl-5,5- dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1,2-oxaphosphol-2-amine 2-oxide in mice bone marrow cells and Allium cepa L. root tip cells

Abstract

The chemistry of organophosphorus compounds is a subject of increasing interest and different new compounds have been synthesized. There are data that some known organophosphates are mutagens. Oxaphosphole derivatives possess biological activity and might influence proliferating cells. Bioassays are currently used in ecotoxicology to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of new chemicals. To provide a broad coverage of the mutagenic potential of a chemical, information on different experimental test-systems is required. Genotoxicity assays are usually performed at high doses, but humans are exposed to most environmental chemicals at low doses. The objective of this study was to determine the genotoxicity of low doses (2.82x10-6 ?g/kg and 2.82x10-9 ?g/kg, corresponding to concentrations 10-12M and 10-15M) of 4-bromo-N,N-diethyl- 5,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1,2-oxaphosphol-2-amine 2-oxide (Br-oxph) in ICR mice bone marrow cells and Allium cepa L. root tip cells. Treatment with Br-oxph for 3 h produced alterations in the mitotic index in Allium cepa cells and induced chromosome aberrations in both test systems. These effects remained 48 h after the treatment. The data from the study showed the existence of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Br-oxph at tested doses.