Molecular cytogenetic evaluation of the aneugenic effects of teniposide in somatic and germinal cells of male mice

The ability of topoisomerase II inhibitor, teniposide, to induce aneuploidy and meiotic delay in somatic and germinal cells of male mice was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) assay using labelled DNA probes and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, respectively. Colchicine and mitomycin C were used as a positive control aneugen and clastogen, respectively, and these compounds produced the expected responses. Using FISH assay with centromeric and telomeric DNA probes for erythrocyte, micronuclei (MN) showed that teniposide is not only clastogenic but also aneugenic in somatic cells in vivo. The assay also showed that chromosomes can be enclosed in the MN before and after centromere separation. By using the BrdU incorporation assay, it could be shown that the meiotic delay caused by teniposide in germ cells was similar to 48 h. Disomic and diploid sperms were shown in epididymal sperm hybridised with DNA probes specific for chromosomes 8, X and Y after teniposide treatment. The prevalence of autodiploid (XX88 and YY88) sperm and disomic XX8 or YY8 sperm indicates that the second meiotic division was more sensitive to teniposide than the first meiotic division. The results also suggest that earlier prophase stages contribute relatively less to teniposide-induced aneuploidy. Both the clastogenic and the aneugenic potential of teniposide can give rise to the development of secondary tumours and abnormal reproductive outcomes in cured cancer patients and medical personnel exposing to drug regimens that include teniposide. Thus, genetic counselling of these patients should take place before the start of chemotherapy and should take the present results into consideration.