Cytological effects of kepone on Chinese hamster cells.

Cytological and cytotoxic effects of kepone on Chinese hamster cells (M3-1) were investigated. Cells treated with 2 micrograms, 4 micrograms, and 6 micrograms/ml of kepone did not show any morphological abnormalities. However, cytological observations showed that chromosome breaks, chromatid breaks, dicentric chromosomes, and chromosome interchanges were produced by these treatments. Cytotoxic studies revealed dose response and time response reactions to kepone. Cell toxicity was greater at the 30 micrograms/ml concentration, producing 100 percent cell death within 24 hours.