EFFECTS OF HYCANTHONE ON SPERMATOGONIAL CELLS, DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS IN BONE MARROW AND DOMINANT LETHALITY IN RATS

Hycanthone methanesulfonate was administered i.p. in acute and subacute dosages to male rats. The animals were then examined for: 1) cytogenetic abnormalities in spermatogonial cells, 2) incorporation of 3H-thymidine in bone marrow cells to study deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and 3) dominant lethality. Hycanthone had no cytogenetic effect on spermatogonial cells other than mitotic inhibition and produced only a nonsignificant increase in labeled bone marrow cells at an acute dosage of 40 mg/kg. Females examined for dominant lethality showed significantly pre- and/or postimplantation loss in weeks 3,4,5 and 7 as a result of subacute treatment of the males. It is concluded that hycanthone has genetic effects which should be considered in relation to its therapeutic benefit.