Sister-chromatid exchange frequencies induced by metrifonate in mammalian in vivo and in vitro systems.

Metrifonate is a drug widely used to cure several helminthiases in man including cysticercosis. In this study we determine its capacity to induce SCEs in vivo and in vitro using the fluorescence-plus-Giemsa technique. In the human lymphocyte system we tested 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 micrograms/ml added at 24 h of culture with a duration of 72 h. The results showed a SCE inducing effect with the exception of the first tested dose (10 micrograms/ml), but without a dose-response expression. A cell cycle progression delay was seen with the three highest dosages. In the mouse bone marrow we tested 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg in a 24-h experiment, and the results indicated an SCE increase only with the highest dose. No modification of the cell proliferation kinetics was observed.