3]4 7 Jufi6ek, M., T. Gichner and J. Veleminsk~,, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Praha (Czechoslovakia)
Comparison of sodium azide and 3-azido-l,2-propandio| induced mutagenesis in various pro- and eukaryotic systems The aim of this work was to compare the mutagenic potency of a well known mutagen, sodium azide, with a simple water-soluble organic azide, 3-azido-l,2-propandiol (APD), which represents an intermediary product in various synthetic pathways of organic chemistry. Both sodium azide and A P D p r o d u c e d base substitutions in Salmonella typhimurium, however, the mutagenicity of A P D was not inhibited by L-cysteine. This indicates that, unlike sodium azide, A P D does not require to be activated to an ultimate mutagen by O-acetylserine sulphydrylase. In E. coil the mutagenic activity of both compounds was dependent on uvrA gene but independent on SOS system. However, in E. coli and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 A P D was a very efficient mutagen even at non-growth conditions. Both compounds are strongly mutagenic in barley (Hordeum vulgare) but, in contrast to sodium azide, A P D produced also high frequencies of recessive embryonic lethals in Arabidopsis thaliana and pink mutations in stamen hairs of Tradescantia 4430. The mutagenic efficiency of A P D in all these systems was comparable to the most efficient mutagens like alkylating agents etc. Both sodium azide and APD were non-clastogenic in human lymphocytes.
the present study is to investigate the mutagenicity of this drug. The roots of Allium cepa are treated with the drug for different periods of time (4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h) and with different concentrations ranging from 10.64 × 1 0 - 7 M to 5.99 × 10 7 M. Cytological studies are carried out from slides prepared by the Feulgen squash technique. The drug causes an inhibition in mitotic activity as shown from the mitotic indices (MI) in all the treatments. The degree of depression in MI is related to the concentration used and the period of treatment. Algaphan induces a number of mitotic abnormalities. Their frequencies vary depending on the dose and the period of treatment Chromosome stickiness is observed specially after treatment with high doses, which indicates the toxic effect of the drug. C-metaphase appears in all treatments with variable frequencies indicating the risk of aneuploidy. Chromosome and chromatid bridges, lagging chromosomes, multipolar are among the abnormalities observed at anaphase stage. Other types of abnormalities such as micronuclei and multinuclei are observed during telophase and interphase. The positive mutagenic results obtained should be considered as a warning and an indication that Algaphan may be a risk to human health.
9 Marcos, R., A. Velazquez, M. Batiste-Alentorn, N. Xamena and A. Creus, Departamento de Gen6tica, Universidad Aut6noma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Spain)
Mutagenesis screening of several insecticides in
Drosophila melanogaster 8 E1-Bayoumi, A.S., A.A. Habib and A.S. Haleem, Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Qatar, Doha (Qatar) Mutagenicity of the drug "Algaphan" using the Allium test Algaphan is the trade name of the chemical compound dextropropoxyphene hydrochloride. It is a drug used by man as an analgesic. The aim of
The incorporation of insecticides into the food chain could mean a potential risk for animals, including men, because of either the toxic or the mutagenic effects. In view of this, an adequate evaluation of the genotoxic activity of the insecticides commonly used is necessary. It is generally accepted that D. melanogaster presents many advantages in genetic toxicology testing and, in spite of its specific sensitivity to insecticides, we can use this organism to evaluate the mutagenic potential of these compounds.