Genotoxic evaluation of the furylethylene derivative 2-furyl-1-nitroethene in cultured human lymphocytes

The compound 2-furyl-1-nitroethene (G-0) was evaluated for genotoxicity in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 15 mug/ml. Micronuclei (MN) and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were scored as genetic endpoints. In order to detect the role of metabolic enzymes on the genotoxicity of this furylethylenic derivative, the cultures for MN and SCE demonstrations were also treated with S9 microsomal fraction. The results indicate that, under the conditions of the study, the test agent does not seem to induce significant increases in the frequency of micronucleated cells, irrespective of the presence of metabolic activation. Nevertheless, a slight increase in the SCE frequency was observed in those cultures treated without the S9 mix; although this increase disappeared in presence of the microsomal fraction. In addition, cytostatic effects of 2-furyl-1-nitroethene were observed mainly in cultures without S9 fraction, as indicated by the reduction of cell proliferation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.