The mutagenic potential of acetonitrile in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of the mouse

Acetonitrile was tested for its ability to induce clastogenic or aneugenic effects through the induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in mouse bone marrow and peripheral blood. Groups of NMRI mice, five males and five females, were administered a single i.p. dose of acetonitrile, corresponding to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), 100 or 125 mg/kg body wt for males and females, respectively. Bone marrow was sampled at 18, 24 or 36 h after treatment, while peripheral blood was sampled before and 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after treatment. Positive controls were administered cyclophosphamide (65 mg/kg i.p.). Acetonitrile did not increase the incidence of MNPCE in either bone marrow or peripheral blood in male mice or in peripheral blood in females. A small, but statistically significant (P < 0.05), increase was observed in female bone marrow 36 h after administration, but since this was within the range of the control data it is not considered to be of biological significance. Cyclophosphamide increased the incidence of MNPCE in bone marrow and peripheral blood of both sexes. It is concluded that acetonitrile is neither clastogenic nor aneugenic in the bone marrow of the mouse at the MTD.