ABSTRACT
Two acrosin inhibitors, 4'-methylumbelliferyl 4-guanidinobenzoate and 2'-carbomethoxyphenyl 4-guanidinobenzoate, were tested for mutagenicity in the transplacental micronucleus assay and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The compounds were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg to pregnant mice. Fetal peripheral blood and maternal bone marrow cells were examined at 36 h for the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. Neither compound induced micronuclei in maternal or fetal tissues. The ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes was not affected by the drug treatments indicating that the compounds had no effect on the cell cycle or mitosis in these tissues and that they were not cytotoxic. Both compounds, which show promise as vaginal contraceptives, were not mutagenic in this study.
Subject(s)
Guanidines/toxicity , Hymecromone/analogs & derivatives , Mutagens/toxicity , Animals , Bone Marrow/drug effects , Bone Marrow Cells , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/ultrastructure , Female , Fetus/cytology , Hematopoietic System/cytology , Hematopoietic System/drug effects , Hymecromone/toxicity , Mice , Micronucleus Tests , Mitosis/drug effects , Placenta/cytology , Pregnancy , Staining and LabelingABSTRACT
Ejaculated sperm from the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) were compared for differences in morphological abnormalities and argentophilic protein distribution. Thawed domestic ferret sperm was also compared to fresh sperm to determine whether there were any effects on cell morphology due to cryopreservation. There were statistically significant differences between the two species of ferret in two of the categories scored. The domestic ferret had a higher frequency of cells that were bent in the midpiece and in the principal piece, and a higher frequency of headless and tailless cells when compared to the black-footed ferret. There were no statistically significant differences in cell morphology between the fresh and cryopreserved ejaculates of the domestic ferret employing a standard egg yolk cryoextender. Silver nitrate staining distribution was different between the two species in both the head and tail region.
