EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGEN SOCIETY
281
workers from the zinc industry who presented signs of lead poisoning of different degrees as well as on peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers from the cadmium industry. Chromatic aberrations (gaps, breaks and exchanges) as well as chromosome aberrations (gaps, fragments, disturbances of spiralization, rings and dicentrics) were observed in most of the workers. Negative lesults, however, were obtained on peripheral blood lymphocytes of cows intoxicated by the ingestion of hay which had been harvested near a works refining metals. Six animals (of a total of 15) died within a few days and the lead content in the cadavers was markedly increased. Furthermore, chemical analysis performed on soils around the plant showed that the level of many other metals was very high (lead, 2-60 times higher than normal; chromium, ± 80 times ; cadmium, ~ 50 times ; cobalt, ± 7 times; zinc, 5o-4oo times; copper, 12 times). The amount of arsenic in the grass was 50 to 200 times above normal. Nevertheless, no severe chromosome abnormalities were observed in the survivors. These results, as well as the negative findings obtained in the dominant lethality test, spermatocyte test and Fz translocation test performed with mice, will be discussed with respect to the effects of cadmium and lead on the cells.
57 GEBHART, E., R. BECHER AND M. STOSIEK, Institut ftir Humangenetik und Anthropologie der Universit~it Erlangen-Niirnberg, 852 Erlangen (West Germany).
Relative effectiveness of protectors against the chromosome damaging activity of chemical mutagens According to a programme presented earlier (Paris 1971), a series of sulphydryl compounds and amino acids as well as a radioprotective pharmacon have been tested for their protective activity against the chromosome damaging activity of 2,3,5triethyleneimine-I, 4 benzoquinone (Trenimon ®) and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate in human lymphocytes in vitro. The substances included in this study were the sulphydryl compounds L-cysteine, cysteamine, AET and Reducdyn ® (composed of N-acetyl-homocysteine-thiolactone, L-cysteine and fructose), as well as the amino acids L-alanine, L-asparagine, u-arginine, L-glutamic acid, L-histidine and L-methionine. Only the sulphhydryl compounds and the amino acid L-asparagine showed a protector effect against both clastogens, whereas only L-methionine was effective against Trenimon ® and L-glutamic acid only against 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate. There are differences between these protectors not only as to the degree of their effectiveness but also as to the types of aberration influenced by these substances. Applied simultaneously with Trenimon ® for 24 h, AET and Reducdyn ® were the most protective afents, L-asparagine being the weakest protector, whereas against 8-hydroxy-quinoline sulphate, L-cysteine was most effective. The scale as well as details of this effectiveness will be demonstrated. Abbreviation: AET, S-(2-aminoethyl)isothiuroniumbromide hydrochloride.
281
workers from the zinc industry who presented signs of lead poisoning of different degrees as well as on peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers from the cadmium industry. Chromatic aberrations (gaps, breaks and exchanges) as well as chromosome aberrations (gaps, fragments, disturbances of spiralization, rings and dicentrics) were observed in most of the workers. Negative lesults, however, were obtained on peripheral blood lymphocytes of cows intoxicated by the ingestion of hay which had been harvested near a works refining metals. Six animals (of a total of 15) died within a few days and the lead content in the cadavers was markedly increased. Furthermore, chemical analysis performed on soils around the plant showed that the level of many other metals was very high (lead, 2-60 times higher than normal; chromium, ± 80 times ; cadmium, ~ 50 times ; cobalt, ± 7 times; zinc, 5o-4oo times; copper, 12 times). The amount of arsenic in the grass was 50 to 200 times above normal. Nevertheless, no severe chromosome abnormalities were observed in the survivors. These results, as well as the negative findings obtained in the dominant lethality test, spermatocyte test and Fz translocation test performed with mice, will be discussed with respect to the effects of cadmium and lead on the cells.
57 GEBHART, E., R. BECHER AND M. STOSIEK, Institut ftir Humangenetik und Anthropologie der Universit~it Erlangen-Niirnberg, 852 Erlangen (West Germany).
Relative effectiveness of protectors against the chromosome damaging activity of chemical mutagens According to a programme presented earlier (Paris 1971), a series of sulphydryl compounds and amino acids as well as a radioprotective pharmacon have been tested for their protective activity against the chromosome damaging activity of 2,3,5triethyleneimine-I, 4 benzoquinone (Trenimon ®) and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate in human lymphocytes in vitro. The substances included in this study were the sulphydryl compounds L-cysteine, cysteamine, AET and Reducdyn ® (composed of N-acetyl-homocysteine-thiolactone, L-cysteine and fructose), as well as the amino acids L-alanine, L-asparagine, u-arginine, L-glutamic acid, L-histidine and L-methionine. Only the sulphhydryl compounds and the amino acid L-asparagine showed a protector effect against both clastogens, whereas only L-methionine was effective against Trenimon ® and L-glutamic acid only against 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate. There are differences between these protectors not only as to the degree of their effectiveness but also as to the types of aberration influenced by these substances. Applied simultaneously with Trenimon ® for 24 h, AET and Reducdyn ® were the most protective afents, L-asparagine being the weakest protector, whereas against 8-hydroxy-quinoline sulphate, L-cysteine was most effective. The scale as well as details of this effectiveness will be demonstrated. Abbreviation: AET, S-(2-aminoethyl)isothiuroniumbromide hydrochloride.
