Research, 29 (1975) 279-284 ,C, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam--Printed in The Netherlands

itlutation

279

52 BARTSCH, H. D., Free University ol Berlin, D e p a r t m e n t of Pediatrics, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Berlin (Germany).

Cytogenetic testing of antiepileptic drugs in human patients Microcultures were performed from peripheral blood of h u m a n s receiving anticonvulsant medication (diphenylhydantoins or primidone). The dose of medication was such t h a t no seizure would occui. This concentration had been applied to the test person for several months without modification ; no other drug had been given during the interval; cases with m o n o t h e r a p y ( D P H or P) were taken exclusively. Ioo metapbases were analyzed from each person and the incidence of structural aberrations (chromatid breaks = B', isochromatid breaks -- B", interchanges ~ RB') was compared with those of control cultures. The latter had been prepared from persons with a normal k a y o t y p e and t h e y had not received a n y drugs for at least six months. Taking ~ = o.Io and fl = o.oi, the Z 2 test resulted in P ---- 0.999 and 0.997, respectively. This indicates t h a t there is no elevated breakage in metaphases from the peripheral blood of persons with anticonvulsant medication.

DPH P Control

n

B'

B ~

RB"

i6 a 25 24

20 46 34

8 i2 it

o o I

a Values are % damaged metaphases. Abbreviations: DPH. diphenylhydantoins; P, primidone.

53 CZEIZEL, A., J. KIR~LY AND P. RUZICSKA, Laboratory of H u m a n Genetics, National Institute of Public Health and Budapest Chemical Works, Budapest (Hungary).

Studies on chromosomal mutations in workers producing organophosphate insecticides The chromosomal mutagenic effect of pesticides containing organic phosphoric acid esters has been demonstrated earlier in patients who had suffered severe acute intoxications due to violating labour-safety measures Ol a t t e m p t i n g to commit suicide. F r o m practical points of view, it is important to clarify whether the various types of chromosome aberrations occur with a frequency higher than usual in persons exposed to chronic small doses of pesticides, e.g. in workers producing the insecticides studied previottsly. Up to the present, the chromosomes ot the peripheral blood cultures of a total of 73 workers have been studied. The results obtained are not unequivocal because, whereas tile frequency ot chromosomal abnormalities in the s t u d y group as a whole was not h i g h e r t h a n in the control group, it was higher in some cases and rather high in some others. The collection of further cases and the etiological evaluation of those suspected to have more severe chromosomal injuries are in progress.