Studies of the induction of chromosomal aberration and sister chromatid exchange in rats exposed to styrene by inhalation. 1993

R J Preston, and D J Abernethy
Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology, Research Triangle Park, NC.

A large number of studies have been reported on the genotoxicity of styrene in vitro and in vivo and the potential effects on humans of occupational exposure. Because of a variety of technical problems and difficulties in data interpretation, it has not been clearly established whether styrene can induce chromosomal aberrations and/or sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in vivo in animals or humans. The importance of clarifying this situation led to the development of the study described in this paper. Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed to styrene at concentrations of 150, 500 or 1000 ppm for 6 h/day on 5 days/week for 4 weeks. A negative control (air) was included. An additional control (ethylene oxide, 150 ppm) group was included in an attempt to establish the usefulness of rat lymphocytes for cytogenetic analysis in this protocol of long-term exposure by inhalation. The choice of agent and of exposure was based on the expectation that they would produce a positive response for SCE and/or chromosomal aberrations under the assay conditions used. Peripheral blood samples were drawn at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of exposure and at 4 weeks after the end of exposure. Cultures were established, and SCE (second mitosis) and chromosomal aberrations (first mitosis) were analysed. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was not increased over that in the air controls in the animals exposed to styrene or ethylene oxide at any of the sampling times. Styrene did not induce SCE at any of the concentrations or sampling times; however, the frequency of SCE was increased following exposure to ethylene oxide at all sampling times, with a positive exposure-response relationship with time of exposure as the variable. The data are compared with other, similar sets reported in the literature, and their significance for predicting responses in people occupationally exposed to styrene is discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008214 Lymphocytes White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS. Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008297 Male Males
D011916 Rats, Inbred F344 An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes. Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002869 Chromosome Aberrations Abnormal number or structure of chromosomes. Chromosome aberrations may result in CHROMOSOME DISORDERS. Autosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Aberrations,Abnormalities, Autosome,Abnormalities, Chromosomal,Abnormalities, Chromosome,Chromosomal Aberrations,Chromosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Abnormalities,Aberration, Chromosomal,Aberration, Chromosome,Aberration, Cytogenetic,Aberrations, Chromosomal,Aberrations, Chromosome,Aberrations, Cytogenetic,Abnormalities, Cytogenetic,Abnormality, Autosome,Abnormality, Chromosomal,Abnormality, Chromosome,Abnormality, Cytogenetic,Autosome Abnormality,Chromosomal Aberration,Chromosomal Abnormalities,Chromosomal Abnormality,Chromosome Aberration,Chromosome Abnormality,Cytogenetic Aberration,Cytogenetic Abnormality
D005027 Ethylene Oxide A colorless and flammable gas at room temperature and pressure. Ethylene oxide is a bactericidal, fungicidal, and sporicidal disinfectant. It is effective against most micro-organisms, including viruses. It is used as a fumigant for foodstuffs and textiles and as an agent for the gaseous sterilization of heat-labile pharmaceutical and surgical materials. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p794) Oxirane,Oxide, Ethylene
D000280 Administration, Inhalation The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract. Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012854 Sister Chromatid Exchange An exchange of segments between the sister chromatids of a chromosome, either between the sister chromatids of a meiotic tetrad or between the sister chromatids of a duplicated somatic chromosome. Its frequency is increased by ultraviolet and ionizing radiation and other mutagenic agents and is particularly high in BLOOM SYNDROME. Chromatid Exchange, Sister,Chromatid Exchanges, Sister,Exchange, Sister Chromatid,Exchanges, Sister Chromatid,Sister Chromatid Exchanges
D013343 Styrenes Derivatives and polymers of styrene. They are used in the manufacturing of synthetic rubber, plastics, and resins. Some of the polymers form the skeletal structures for ion exchange resin beads.

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