Failure to detect chromosome damage in bone-marrow cells of mice and Chinese hamsters exposed in vivo to some ergot derivatives.

A known chemical mutagen (Trenimon, Bayer), and three ergot derivatives (ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotoxine mesylate, and methysergide hydrogen maleate) were tested in mice and Chinese hamsters for mutagenic effects by means of the micronucleus test and the conventional chromosome method. In contrast to Trenimon, which proved to be a powerful mutagen in these test systems, neither of the ergot derivatives showed an effect. It is concluded that these compounds, at subtoxic or therapeutic dose-levels, have no potential for damaging the chromosome complement of in vivo treated mammals.