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Sister chromatid exchanges in chick embryos after treatment with the phenoxy herbicide mcpa
Author(s) -
Arias Elio
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850190411
Subject(s) - mcpa , sister chromatids , incubation , embryo , chemistry , sister chromatid exchange , toxicity , sodium , biology , biochemistry , chromosome , dna , genetics , pesticide , agronomy , organic chemistry , gene
The phenoxyherbicide and peroxisome proliferator 2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) was tested for its ability to induce sister‐chromatid exchanges (SCE) in chick embryos. Erbitox E30 (a commercial formulation containing 28% MCPA sodium potassium salt as active ingredient) was injected into the air chamber in concentrations of MCPA of 0, 0.35, 0.7, 1.4, 2.8, or 5.6 mg/egg on day 0 of incubation. Pure MCPA sodium salt was tested at 2.8 mg/egg. Neutral red at 0.25 mg/egg was the mutagenic reference compound (positive control group). Eggs were then incubated for 4 days. MCPA induced a slight but significant increase in SCE frequency (about 1.3 times base line) at 2.8 mg/egg. The dose of 5.6 mg/egg was toxic. No difference in genetic activity between the commercial formulation and the pure compound was found. A cell cycle delaying effect of MCPA was evident at all the dose levels tested. The mitotic index remained unchanged.