Cytogenetic effects of vaginally administered gossypol in murine bone marrow cells.

The cytogenetic effects of gossypol were evaluated by determining the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), percentage of pulverized metaphases, mitotic indices and micronuclei in bone marrow cells of mice treated per vaginam. A dose-dependent increase in the frequency of SCEs was observed when gossypol suspended in corn oil was administered at dosages of 10, 20 or 40 micrograms/g. In comparison with controls, incidences of SCEs were significantly higher in mice given 20 and 40 micrograms/g gossypol, whereas the mitotic indices, percentages of pulverized metaphases and the frequency of interphase micronuclei in treated animals were not different from their control counterparts. The SCE data suggest that gossypol has a DNA-damaging potency in murine bone marrow cells.