Pattern of toxicity by titanocene dichloride in mice: hematologic parameters.

Peripheral blood parameters (hematocrit, counts of RBC, reticulocytes, WBC and platelets, differential blood count) were analyzed after single injections of the cytostatic agents titanocene dichloride (TDC; ED90, 40 mg/kg; LD10, 60 mg/kg) and cisplatin (DDP; ED90, 10 mg/kg). Whereas DDP depressed the number of reticulocytes and polychromatophilic erythrocytes to near - zero level, TDC did not obviously affect the supply of young erythrocytes from bone marrow; RBC count and hematocrit values were never reduced after application either of TDC or of DDP. In the case of leukocytes, WBC count did not leave the normal range after treatment with TDC, whereas a diminution under control values was observable after application of DDP. Finally, the number of circulating platelets transiently decreased beneath control range as well after application of TDC as of DDP. The results indicate an only slight myelotoxicity induced by TDC, the platelets being the only cells affected in a reversible manner. Thus, myelosuppression by TDC is apparently even less pronounced than in the case of DDP.