1,6-Dinitropyrene causes spindle disturbances and chromosomal damage in V79 Chinese hamster cells.

We have investigated the cytogenetic effect of 1,6-dinitropyrene (1,6-DNP) in Chinese hamster V79 cells. The chemical caused a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of initial and full C-mitoses, polyploid mitoses, ana-telophases with lagging chromosomes, non-disjunction and multipolar configurations, in a range of 0.05-5 microM. These findings indicate that 1,6-DNP interferes with the functioning of the spindle apparatus in V79 cells. Early signs of spindle disturbances were seen at 1,6-DNP concentrations which only moderately reduced cell growth and division. Analysis of structural chromosomal aberrations revealed the appearance of chromatid-type aberrations with open breaks and exchanges accompanied by gaps. The results indicate that 1,6-DNP is both a spindle-disturbing and a clastogenic agent in V79 cells.