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Cytogenetic effects of mebendazole on in vivo and in vitro mammalian systems

Lusânia M.G. Antunes^I; Catarina S. Takahashi1^I,II

^IDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
^IIDepartamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to C.S.T.

ABSTRACT

Mebendazole (MBZ), (methyl-5 benzoyl benzimidazole-2-carbamate), a potent antihelmintic agent, was tested for clastogenicity in Wistar rat bone marrow cells (1300, 1750, 3500 and 7000 mg/kg b.w.) and for both clastogenicity and antimitotic potential in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture (5, 10 and 20 mg/ml culture medium). One-hundred metaphases/treatment were analyzed for induction of chromosome aberrations and 2000 cells/treatment were counted to determine the mitotic index. MBZ did not induce an increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations, however it was effective in blocking the cell cycle at metaphase.

Keywords: cytogenetic; mebendazole; mammalian systems.

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