Spermatogonial cytogenetic toxicity of vincristine and its transmission in the germline cells of Swiss mice.

We tested the anticancer drug vincristine sulfate (VCR) and cyclophosphamide for their cytogenetic toxic effects on spermatogonia in Swiss mice, and we assessed the possible transmission of such effects in the germline cells. Spermatogonial metaphase chromosome aberration study, primary spermatocytic chromosome analysis, and sperm morphology assay were examined after a single intraperitoneal exposure of VCR 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg and CTX 40 mg/kg body weight at 24 hours, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks posttreatment, respectively. The induction of statistically significant percentages of aberrant spermatogonial metaphases and chromosomal aberrations (excluding gaps) in the VCR-treated mice indicated its clastogenicity. The occurrence of significant percentages of aberrant primary spermatocytes with atypical bivalents and higher percentages of abnormal spermatozoa (sperm), although not statistically significant, indicated the transmission of the induced cytogenetic effects of VCR from spermatogonia to sperm. We conclude that VCR is genotoxic to the male germline cells of Swiss mice, and has the potential of transmitting the cytogenetic toxic effects to the next generation.