Mutagenic bioassay of certain pharmacological drugs: III Metronidazole (MTZ)

MUDRY M, CARBALLO M, LABAL DE VINUESA M, GONZÁLEZ CID M, LARRIPA I

MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 1994 vol. 305 p. 127 - 132

0027-5107

The genotoxic activity of MTZ was evaluated in vitro with the anaphase-telophase test in a CHO cell line, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus test in lymphocyte cultures, and in vivo using the micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow cells. The In vivo test was performed using clinical trial doses (23, 70 and 160 mg/kg). A significant increase in micronucleated cells (p < 0.02) was observed in the three assayed doses with a linear dose response (r = 0.91). In vitro studies showed a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal anaphases (p < 0.05), in chromosome aberrations (p < 0.01) and in the frequency of micronuclei (p < 0.02) at all the concentrations assayed (0.1, 1 and 10 μg/ml). These findings demonstrate the clastogenic effect of this drug which should be taken into account considering its wide human consumption