Evaluation of the clastogenic action of benzene by oral administration with 2 cytogenetic techniques in mouse and Chinese hamster.

In previous studies, we found, using the micronucleus test, that the adult male mouse is about twice as sensitive as the female to the clastogenic action of orally administered benzene (Siou and Conan, 1978). For new-born mice suckling mothers receiving benzene orally (Siou and Conan, 1979), or for three-week-old mice receiving benzene orally (Siou and Conan, 1980), there was no significant difference in sensitivity between females and castrated males; castrated males treated with testosterone regained their original sensitivity. The objectives of the experiments described here were to confirm these findings by metaphase chromosome analysis of bone-marrow cells from mice and Chinese hamsters. Metaphase chromosome studies and micronucleus counts were performed on each animal to investigate the relationship between the 2 techniques.