Micronuclei induction and chromosomal aberrations in Rattus norvegicus by chloroacetic acid and chlorobenzene.

Chloroacetic acid (CAA) and chlorobenzene (CB) have been evaluated for in vivo mutagenic potential in Rattus norvegicus, employing the following criteria : (i) chromosomal aberrations (CAs) such as breaks, gaps, exchanges, rings, and multiple aberrations and (ii) micronuclei (MN) induction. Three sublethal doses, 0.008, 0.01, and 0.012 mg/g b. wt. of CAA and 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 mg/g b. wt. of rat of CB were administered and the bone marrow cells evaluated in each of the three treated groups at 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Mean MN frequencies of 4.40+/-0.2 and 5.42+/-0.3, obtained respectively for CAA and CB. The higher induction of MN by CAA and CB was dose- and time-dependent. Most significant impact (P<0.05) for either of the compounds was observed at 24h post administration, when the recorded mean frequency of CAs was maximum for CAA (4.33+/-0.6) as well as for CB (4.66+/-0.5).