Genotoxic effect of the insecticide methomyl lannate in mouse bone-marrow

ABSTRACT

The cytogenetic effect of the insecticide "Methomyl" was studied in mouse bone-marrow cells. the ability of "Methomyl" to induce micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges was investigated. Intra-peritoneal injection of "Methomyl" with the dose 4 mg Kg-1b.wt. induced a significant increase in the percentage of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, the same dose caused marrow toxicity as indicated by a significant increase in the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes. The doses 4 and 6 mg "Methomyl" Kg-1 b.wt. induced a significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal aberrations after i.p. injection. The chromosomal aberrations induced by "Methomyl" were mainly structural including gaps, fragments, breaks and deletions. Methomyl induced also significant and dose dependent increase of sister chromatid exchanges SCE's. The present results indicated that "Methomyl" is genotoxic in mouse bone-marrow cells. Care must be taken to the use of this insecticide in agriculture