Induction of specific-locus and dominant lethal mutations in male mice by 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU)

1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) induced dominant lethal and specific-locus mutations in male mice. For both compounds the germ cell stage sensitive to the induction of dominant lethal mutations was dose dependent. A dose of 5 mg BCNU per kg b.wt. induced dominant lethal mutations primarily in spermatocytes, whereas higher doses of BCNU induced dominant lethals in spermatids and spermatocytes. Following doses of 5 and 10 mg CCNU per kg b.wt. dominant lethals were induced in spermatids and spermatocytes similar to the results for higher doses of BCNU. Higher dose exposure to BCNU and CCNU was associated with dominant lethals expressed as pre-implantation loss (reduction in total number of implants). In addition, higher doses of CCNU showed a cytotoxic effect in differentiating spermatogonia. Both compounds induced specific-locus mutations in post-spermatogonial germ cell stages of mice. However, CCNU increased also the specific-locus mutation frequency in spermatogonia in two out of three experiments. We conclude in analogy with criteria developed by IARC, that BCNU and CCNU are potential human mutagens.