Effect of 'Pan Masala' on the germ cells of male mice.

Cytogenetic analyses of meiotic metaphase I germ cells and abnormalities of head morphology of caudal sperms were conducted in male mice following oral feeding of Pan Masala. The substance was ground to a fine powder, dispersed in polysorbate solution and administered via gavage to the animals at 84, 420 and 840 mg/kg body weight at the rate of 10 ml/kg body weight. Polysorbate and cyclophosphamide served as the vehicle control and positive control respectively. The two higher doses, 420 and 840 mg, gave a significant increase in the frequency of X-Y univalents and breaks over those of the vehicle control. Frequency of sperm head abnormalities were significantly high for all the doses tested. The results indicate that Pan Masala is a potent clastogen, reaches the testes and affects the germinal cells.