Cadmium chloride induces dose-dependent increases in the frequency of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow.

The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MPCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (MNCE) was studied in Swiss albino mice treated with 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride. It was observed that cadmium chloride induced a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of MPCE and MNCE. However, this increase was significant only after treatment with 0.05 mg/kg of CdCl2 (MPCE). The polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/NCE ratio) declined with the increase in CdCl2 dose and this depletion was dose-dependent. A significant decline was observed only after 0.25 mg/kg CdCl2. The dose-response relationship for all three parameters was linear-quadratic.