Increase of sister chromatid exchanges and perturbations of cell division kinetics in human lymphocytes by benzene metabolites

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Cancer Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6903812

Morimoto, K; Wolff, S

Benzene, which has been associated with human cancers, is metabolized to produce several major metabolites that could be responsible for the biological effects. Tests have now been carried out on human lymphocytes in culture to determine if benzene or its metabolites, phenol, catechol, and hydroquinone, induce cytogenetic changes and affect the cell cycle. The results indicate that benzene itself does not induce sister chromatid exchanges or affect cell cycle kinetics over a wide range of doses. Catechol is a potent compound that induces sister chromatid exchanges and delays cell division very readily. Hydroquinone is also potent, but less so than catechol. Thus, the formation of catechol and hydroquinone is the most likely cause of benzene toxicity.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 6903812
• Journal Information: Cancer Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer Res.; (United States) Vol. 40; ISSN CNREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CYCLE
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DEVELOPERS
GENETIC EFFECTS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
METABOLITES
MUTATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
PRIMATES
PYROCATECHOL
QUINONES
SISTER CHROMATID EXCHANGES
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES