RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the damage of DNA in rat bone marrow cells induced by mustard gas.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups. Physiological saline, propylene glycol and mustard gas(0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 mg/kg) were given separately by i.p. injection. 5 rats in each group were killed after 0, 24, 48, 72 hours of exposure. The DNA damage in rat bone marrow cells was assayed by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is no significant difference of DNA damage among all groups at 0 h(P > 0.05). The rates of DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of the rat bone marrow cells in propylene glycol group at 24, 48, 72 hours were 15.4% +/- 0.21%, 16.0% +/- 0.19%, 15.7% +/- 0.23% and (11.4 +/- 0.2), (13.5 +/- 0.3), (12.8 +/- 0.2) micron respectively, and they were significantly higher than those of physiological saline group at the same time(P < 0.05). The rates of DNA migration and the lengths of DNA migration of the rat bone marrow cells in mustard gas groups at 24, 48, 72 hours were significantly higher than those in physiological saline group and propylene glycol group at the same time(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mustard gas could induce DNA damage in rat bone marrow cells. The damage was likely to rise as the dose increased and was time-dependent.</p>