Induction of hypoploidy and cell cycle delay by acrylamide in somatic and germinal cells of male mice

Monomeric acrylamide was tested for its potential to induce aneuploidy in spermatocytes and bone marrow cells of mice. For this purpose, chromosomes from metaphase spreads were counted semi-automatically. In both test systems, cell proliferation was monitored, determining the meiotic index of spermatocytes and the average generation time of bone marrow cells after BrdU incorporation, respectively. No indications could be seen for different sensitivity of somatic and germinal cells towards acrylamide. With a dose of 120 mg/kg, the chemical caused cell cycle delay in both germ line and somatic cells. There was diverging response with respect to the balance of hypo- and hyperploidy. While the percentage of chromosome loss was significantly elevated in both test systems, acrylamide treatment did not increase the frequency of hyperploid cells. Interpreting these results on the basis of conventional test protocols, acrylamide should not be considered as an aneugen. The conservative approach, however, may be inadequate for the detection of aneugenic mechanisms different from non-disjunction.