[The effect of thymogen on the chromosome aberration level in a culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes].

The influence of thymogene on the frequency of spontaneous and formaldehyde-induced chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes was detected. High thymogene concentration (1000, 100, and 10 micrograms/ml) significantly decreased the proliferative activity of lymphocytes in culture. Low thymogene concentrations (1.0; 0.1; 0.01; and 0.001 microgram/ml) didn't decrease the mitotic activity of culture and hadn't mutagenic activity. Thymogene concentrations 1.0; 0.1; and 0.001 microgram/ml significantly decreased the frequency of formaldehyde-induced chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes. Possible mechanisms of gene protection by thymogene is discussed.