Chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow cells and antibody production changes induced by long-term exposure to cyclophosphamide and alpha-tocopherol.

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and the primary immne response to sheep erythrocytes were studied at weekly intervals in mice exposed to cyclophosphamide (0.01% or 0.02% concentration in drinking water) and/or alpha-tocopherol(1000 mg/kg intraperitoneally, twice a week) throughout 4 weeks. Both 0.01% and 0.02% CY concentrations induced approximately the same levels of aberrant cells (7.5 and 9.2%, respectively). No significant rise in the frequency of aberrant cells was observed during the four-week course of experiment. The lower (0.01%) concentration of CY significantly increased IgM haemagglutinin titres, while IgG titres decreased rapidly after 3 weeks of exposure; 0.02% CY suppressed almost completely both IgM and IgG antibody levels already after one week of treatment. Simultaneous application of alpha-tocopherol significantly increased the frequency of aberrant cells in 0.01% Cy-treated mice but had no effect on 0.02% CY-treated group. No considerable changes in antibody titres were induced by alpha-tocopherol in both CY-treated and untreated animals.