Micronucleus induction by diuron in mouse bone marrow

Diuron, a widely used substituted urea herbicide, induced the formation of micronuclei in bone marrow cells of Swiss mice. A single i.p. dose of 340 mg/kg b.w. diuron which is maximum tolerated dose (MTD) increased significantly the number of micronuclei at 30 h and 48 h time period. The hose of 170 mg/kg b.w. also induced the micronuclei formation in the above time period. However, a dose of 85 mg/kg b.w. was ineffective at the time periods studied. No induction of micronuclei was observed at 72 h time period after all the doses of diuron studied as compared to the solvent control. The diuron-induced frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was independent of the sex of the test animals.