[Effects of "compound prescription progestogen no. 1" on induction of sister chromatid exchanges].

This paper presents the effects of "compound prescription progestogen No. 1" on the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in human lymphocytes in vitro with or without the addition of exogenous activation system S-9 mix. The results of this study showed that progestogen No. 1 15 mcg and 150 mcg/ml medium did not affect the frequency of SCEs with or without exogenous activation system S-9 mix compared with the normal controls. When cultured lymphocytes were treated with progestogen No. 1 the mean values of SCEs/cell were 5.79 +or- 2.45-7.92 +or- 2.96 ranging from 1-15 SCEs/cell and those of the controls were 6.56 +or- 3.89-6.68 +or- 3.18 ranging from 2-14 SCEs/cell. The differences between them were not statistically significant (P>0.05). When the concentration of progestogen No. 1 was as high as 300 mcg/ml medium the mean values were 9.76 +or- 3.30-10.36 +or- 2.42 ranging from 5-18 SCEs/cell which were obviously higher than those of the controls. The differences between them were statistically significant (P<0.05). When cyclophosphamide was present (0.5 and 20 mcg/ml medium) the SCEs mean values were 12.27 +or- 4.19-26.36 +or- 7.01 ranging from 5-40 SCEs/cell. They were higher than in the treated (5.79 +or- 2.45-10.36 +or- 2.42) and the controls (5.56 +or- 3.89-6.68 +or- 3.18). The differences between them were all statistically significant (P<0.05). Progestogen No. 1 cannot be transformed to mutagen/carcinogen even if exogenous activation system S-9 mix was added which showed that using progestogen as a longacting OC No. 1 is comparatively safe. (authors modified) (summary in ENG)