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Inhibition of Cyclophosphamide and Mitomycin C-induced Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Mice by Vitamin C

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888 [G. K., T. O.], and Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506 [J. N.]

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is known to act as an antimutagen and anticarcinogen in several test systems. However, there is no report of its effect on carcinogen-induced chromosomal damage in vivo in animals. The present study was performed to determine whether or not ascorbic acid affects sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) induced by cyclophosphamide (CPA) and mitomycin C (MMC) in bone marrow and spleen cells in mice. The results indicate that ascorbic acid per se did not cause a significant increase in SCEs in mice. However, increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid caused decreasing levels of CPA- and MMC-induced SCEs in both cell types in vivo. At the highest concentration of ascorbic acid, 6.68 g/kg, approximately 75 and 40% SCE inhibition in both cell types was noted for CPA and MMC, respectively. Likewise, under in vivo/in vitro conditions (exposure of animals to experimental chemicals followed by culturing of cells), ascorbic acid caused a dose-related decrease in CPA- and MMC-induced SCEs, up to a dose of 3.34 g/kg. At this concentration, approximately 50% CPA- and MMC-induced SCE inhibition was observed in both cell types studied. Thus, ascorbic acid acts as an anti-SCE agent in both in vivo and in vivo/in vitro conditions in mice.

¹ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 11/19/85. Revised 1/15/86. Accepted 2/24/86.