Thiram-induced abnormal chromosome segregation in Aspergillus nidulans

Chromosomal aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes treated with the fungicide, Thiram

In vitro effects of different concentrations of Thiram were tested on human lymphocytes to determine, by means of the chromosome aberrations (CAs) assay, whether this fungicide could induce clastogenic damage. Evidences of the effect of Thiram on human lymphocytes were limited to sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei formation, and comet assays. We evaluated 0.01, 0.1, 1.2, and 12.0 μg/mL of Thiram, where 0.01 μg/mL represent the acceptable daily intake dose set by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization for fruit and vegetables, whereas 0.1, 1.2, and 12.0 μg/mL are its multiple values. Results indicated that human lymphocytes treated in vitro with Thiram at concentrations of 1.20 and 12.0 μg/mL significantly increased CAs frequency, compared with the negative control, whereas at lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 μg/mL), this effect was not observed. However, Thiram showed a clastogenic effect also at the concentration value of 1.2 μg/mL that represents a lower value with respect to the residue limits found in Italy for grapes, strawberries, potatoes, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables. Finally, according to some evidence obtained from the study of other fungicides, Thiram produced a significant reduction in the mitotic index with increasing concentration.

Evaluation of the aneugenic potential of the fungicide Ferbam in mice

Ferbam, a potent dithiocarbamate fungicide is used as a protectant against a wide variety of fungal diseases in fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The wide-spread use of this chemical is likely to pollute the environment. Hence, it was planned to test the possible genotoxicity of Ferbam through its aneugenic potential in the in vivo mouse (Mus musculus) test system. Four different doses of Ferbam, namely, 7.5, 15.0, 30.0, 60.0 mg/kg body weight were administered orally to mice Mus musculus suspended in gum tragacanth representing, respectively, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4;, 1/2 th of the LD50 value. They were sacrificed at 6-, 12-, 24-, and 48-h intervals along with a distilled water negative control at 2 mg/kg body weight. Colchicine treated animals were used as positive controls. Bone marrow preparations were made following the standard Hypotonic flame dry Giemsa staining technique to study the dose and time yield effect of Ferbam. The aneugenic potential was evaluated for C-mitotic effects by scoring the mitotic index, c-mitoses frequency, anaphase reduction, and hyper/hypodiploidy induction. Ferbam showed a significant increase in the mitotic index and C-mitoses effects and anaphase decreased at the highest doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg at 12- and 24-h intervals. Colchicine induced significant effects in all the aneugenic parameters observed at all the time intervals. There was no significant induction of either hyperdiploidy or hypodiploidy by Ferbam, unlike colchicine, indicating that the fungicide Ferbam is not aneugenic in the mouse test system.

Analysis of micronuclei and DNA single-strand breaks in mouse splenocytes and peripheral lymphocytes after oral administration of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram)

The fungicide thiram (tetramethylthiuram disulfide, TMTD) was administered by repeated oral intubations to groups of male B6C3F1 mice at 100, 300 and 900 mg/kg body weight for 4 consecutive days, or at 300 mg/kg for 8 and 12 days. 24 hr after the last treatment animals were killed, and splenocyte cultures were set up for the analysis of micronuclei by the cytokinesis-block method. DNA single strand breaks (ssb) and alkali labile sites were also analysed by the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay in splenocytes and lymphocytes of animals receiving the 8- and 12-day treatments. Parallel experiments with human peripheral lymphocytes were carried out to assess the ability of thiram to induce micronuclei and DNA ssb and alkaline labile sites under in vitro conditions. No significant increase of micronucleated splenocytes was observed in treated animals, despite some evidence of treatment-related cellular toxicity. A borderline excess of DNA damage was suggested by the Comet assay on circulating lymphocytes, whereas negative results were obtained with splenocytes. In vitro, positive results with both genetic end points were obtained in assays with human lymphocytes in the dose ranges 0.5-24 microg/ml and 0.1-8 microg/ml for micronucleus and Comet assays, respectively. These results suggest that thiram, despite its established genotoxicity in vitro, is devoid of appreciable clastogenic and/or aneugenic activity in vivo after oral administration to mice at the maximum tolerated dose.

Genotoxicity of dithiocarbamates and their metabolites

Dithiocarbamate fungicides are widely used in agriculture for protection of vegetable crops and seeds. The mutagenicity spectra of ziram, thiram, zineb S-65 and ETU were determined by employing a battery of test systems included the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA98, TA100, TA102, TA104, TA1535, TA1538), the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain D61.M) and the shallot Allium ascalonicum somatic cells. Plate incorporation assay with S. typhimurium demonstrated direct mutagenicity of ziram in TA100 and thiram in TA100 and TA98 whereas zineb S-65 and ETU were ineffective. Tests for mitotic chromosome malsegregation in S. cerevisiae D61.M gave positive results with thiram, zineb S-69 and ETU. In shallot somatic root-tip cells ziram, thiram and ETU induced different genetic damages e.g. mitotic disturbance, polyploidy and micronuclei.

Clastogenic effects of the dithiocarbamate fungicides thiram and ziram in Chinese hamster cell lines cultured in vitro

We report here the results obtained using the dithiocarbamate fungicides thiram and ziram to investigate the induction of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells both in the absence and presence of S9 metabolism, and in a Chinese hamster epithelial liver (CHEL) cells which retain metabolic competence to activate different classes of promutagens/procarcinogens. Both thiram and ziram proved to be strong chromosome breaking agents in the CHEL cells and CHO cells in the presence of S9 metabolism. These findings suggest that thiram and ziram require metabolic conversion to become genetically active, and corroborate the evidence that CHEL cells are suitable to activate and detect a broad spectrum of chemical procarcinogens including these two pesticides.

Further in vitro and in vivo mutagenicity assays with thiram and ziram fungicides: Bacterial reversion assays and mouse micronucleus test

The fungicides thiram and ziram have been assayed in a battery of nine bacterial strains of different genetic specificity. The results obtained suggest the induction of excisable DNA lesion(s), and indicate similar mutability of strains with AT or GC base pairs at target sites. This mutagenic profile is clearly distinct from that of oxidative mutagens, and it does not support the proposed role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of dithiocarbamates mutagenicity in bacteria. Furthermore, the bone marrow micronucleus test has been carried out in B6C3F1 mice with intraperitoneal administration of high grade thiram (12.5-50 mg/kg) and ziram samples (2.5-10 mg/kg in males, and 5-20 mg/kg in females). Thiram produced a significant increase of micronucleated PCEs in male mice sampled 48 h after treatment with 25, 37.5, and 50 mg/kg. No significant increase was detected in treated females. Ziram, tested in a lower range of doses because of its higher toxicity, resulted negative in both sexes. Both the acute toxicity and the ratio polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocytes indicated some sex specificity in the toxic effects induced by these dithiocarbamates in the B6C3F1 mouse.

Carcinogenicity study of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram) in F344 rats

The carcinogenic potential of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram) was examined in F344 rats. Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats were given thiram in their diet at concentrations of 0.1% and 0.05% for 104 weeks. Similar numbers of male and female rats received the basal diet throughout the experiment. All surviving rats were sacrificed at week 112. The rats given the chemical at 0.1% showed reduced body weight gain, especially in females, and liver dysfunction in biochemical examination of blood in males. Histopathologically, however, no significant lesions or tumor induction attributable to the treatment were observed in any tissue except for dose-dependent reduction of spontaneous leukemia in both sexes and slightly reduced incidences of pituitary and thyroid adenomas in females. Under the present experimental conditions, thiram was not carcinogenic in F344 rats.

The effect of thiram on the germ cells of male mice

The effects of thiram or tetramethylthiuram disulphide on the germ cells of Swiss albino male mice were evaluated by analysing spermatocytes (derived from treated spermatogonia) for chromosomal aberrations and by the sperm-head morphology assay. The total doses tested were 80, 200 and 320 mg/kg body weight given by gavage in three consecutive daily doses, the top dose being slightly below the LD50 of thiram. There was a significant increase in the frequency of numerical chromosomal aberrations and abnormal sperms in mice treated with thiram at all dose levels. Such results could have implications for man in that they suggest that undue exposure to thiram could result in the birth of human infants with numerical chromosomal aberrations.

Systems and results of tests for chemical induction of mitotic malsegregation and aneuploidy in Aspergillus nidulans

In Aspergillus several types of test systems have been developed for detection of chemicals which induce aneuploidy and/or malsegregation of chromosomes. Results from 23 papers were reviewed in which numerical data for 42 chemicals had been reported. The test systems fall into two groups. One group includes all purely genetic tests that detect euploid mitotic segregants from heterozygous diploids and identify these either as products of malsegregation of chromosomes or as products of crossing-over (13 papers, several reviewed in detail previously; Käfer et al. (1982) and Scott et al. (1982)). The other group includes tests that treat haploid or diploid strains and detect aneuploids as unstable abnormally growing segregants which can be identified as specific disomics or trisomics by their characteristic phenotypes. In addition, such tests characterize abnormal segregants from heterozygous diploids by correlating phenotypes with patterns of genetic segregation in spontaneous euploid sectors. This analysis makes it possible to distinguish between induced primary aneuploidy of whole chromosomes and partial tri- or monosomy resulting from chromosome breakage and secondary spontaneous malsegregation (10 papers). Based on results of both types of tests, it is postulated that chemicals which cause increases of euploid malsegregants, but not of crossovers, normally induce aneuploids as primary products (as shown for 7 of the 14 cases). These include compounds which damage spindles or membranes (especially the well-known haploidizing agents) and generally are effective only when growing cells are exposed. (8 chemicals that may belong in this category could not be classified for certain, because information was insufficient.) On the other hand, chemicals which cause increases of all types of euploid segregants (11 cases), mostly induce drastic mutations and aberrations as primary effects and cause spontaneous malsegregation or crossing-over only as secondary events (as demonstrated for radiation-induced abnormals). In addition, a few chemicals were negative, because they increased only crossing-over or showed no increased segregation at all at concentrations which reduced survival or growth rate (9 cases). Recommendations are made for standardization of methods and protocols. New tester strains and specific procedures are outlined which should be useful for conclusive tests of chemicals that may induce aneuploidy.

On the genotoxicity of the pesticides Endodan and Kilacar in 6 different test systems

Two pesticides, the fungicide Endodan (ethylene thiuram monosulphide) and the insecticide-acaricide Kilacar (bis(parachlorophenyl)cyclopropyl methanol), produced or used in the neighbouring countries of Bulgaria and Greece were investigated in a coordinated research programme for their genotoxic effects in a variety of test systems. This included the Ames test, Aspergillus nidulans for mitotic segregation, in vitro human lymphocyte cell cultures for SCE and chromosomal aberrations, in vivo bone marrow cells in hamsters and rats and the dominant lethal test in rats. The genotoxicity of Endodan was found to range from negative to slightly positive in different test systems. At concentrations of 7.5 and 12.0 micrograms/plate together with S9 mix it induced base-pair substitutions in the TA100 strain of Salmonella typhimurium at a rather low level. At a dose of 93 mg/kg b.w. it also caused chromosomal aberrations in acutely treated hamster bone marrow cells. A significant increase of SCE was also found in human lymphocyte cultures at a concentration of 20.0 micrograms/ml. Endodan was found to be negative in A. nidulans for somatic segregation, lymphocyte cultures for chromosomal aberrations and mitotic activity and in rats for dominant lethals and chromosomal aberrations. Kilacar was found to be a weak mutagen in the TA97 strain of S. typhimurium at concentrations of 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/plate together with S9 mix. At concentrations of 1.0, 1.5 and 2 micrograms/ml Kilacar increased the number of mitotic segregants in A. nidulans by 160%, 220% and 156% respectively over the control. In Syrian hamster bone marrow cells after acute administration at concentrations of 0, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg, the MI was 5.50, 4.30, 3.10 and 1.30 respectively, and an increase in chromosomal aberrations of about 300% over the control was observed with a concentration of 80 mg/kg. In human lymphocytes no significant changes were observed in either MI or SCE. In the dominant lethal test after chronic treatment of male rats at doses of 5.1, 10.2 and 102.0 mg/kg b.w. no significant mutagenic effect was found although a decrease was shown in the percentage of females with implants mated with treated males in the first week.

Paramorphogenic and genotoxic activity of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulphate in Aspergillus nidulans

The genotoxic activities of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulphate in Aspergillus nidulans were assessed in order to evaluate their relative merits as paramorphogenic agents. Triton X-100 was found to be ideally suited to this purpose due to its efficient paramorphogenic effect and lack of genotoxicity. Sodium dodecyl sulphate was considered unsuitable since it reduced viability and was inconsistent in its paramorphogenic action.

Mutagenic effects of thiram in mammalian somatic cells

The dimethylthiocarbamate fungicide thiram has been found to be a potent and direct inducer of point mutations at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) locus in Chinese hamster cells in vitro. It also increased the incidence of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow of mice given a single ip dose of 100 mg/kg. Both the in vitro and the in vivo mutagenic responses were observed with doses of thiram that were cytotoxic.

Enzyme inhibition as a possible mechanism of the mutagenicity of dithiocarbamic acid derivatives in Salmonella typhimurium

In recent years data have accumulated regarding genotoxic properties of dithiocarbamic acid derivatives. The results from the present work indicate that the mutagenicity of these compounds depends on an indirect effect via oxygen radicals. Mutagenicity of tetramethylthiuram disulfide ( TMTD ), that was used as a model substance, was established with both frameshift and base substitution sensitive strains of Salmonella typhimurium. Addition of copper ions resulted in a decreased survival at low dithiocarbamate doses. The dose response curves seem to correlate with the formation of two types of metal dithiocarbamate complexes. At low doses charged complexes are formed, while the formation of uncharged complexes is favoured at higher dosages. The data suggest that this formation of uncharged metal complexes implies a decreased toxicity but at the same time an increased mutagenicity. The mutagenicity of both TMTD and its ethyl analogue TETD was enhanced by oxygen. Furthermore, TMTD potentiates the mutagenic action of menadione, a substance that produces O(2) and H2O2 by redox cycling with molecular oxygen. Interaction of uncharged metal dithiocarbamate complexes with both production and detoxification of reactive forms of oxygen is suggested to be responsible for the direct mutagenic effects via oxidative damage to DNA. A further enhancement of the oxygen radical content of the cells by adding microsomes that produce oxygen radicals via autoxidation of cytochrome P-450 is proposed as the mechanism for the 'metabolic activation of TMTD '.

Dithiocarbamate pesticides: activity of Propineb in the micronucleus test in mice

The possible clastogenic activity of Propineb, Propineb technical grade and of its main metabolite, propylene-thiourea (PLTU), was investigated by the micronucleus test in mice according to Schmid. No statistically significant increase in the percentage of micronuclei was observed at any of the tested doses of the above compounds. As positive controls, dose-effect curves were constructed for methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and mitomycin C (MMC).

Disruptive effects of ethyl alcohol on mitotic chromosome segregation in diploid and haploid strains of Aspergillus nidulans

To identify, with certainty, the primary genotoxic effects of ethanol, condidia from diploid strains of Aspergillus nidulans were treated during early germination with ethyl alcohol, and all the resulting segregants from large samples were analysed in detail. Results were identical whether technical grade (95%), or highly purified 'absolute', alcohol was diluted to obtain the effective low levels of ethanol (3-6%). This makes it unlikely that trace contaminants, rather than ethanol itself, caused the observed induced segregation. At the most effective concentrations survival was about 50%, but over half of the colonies were abnormal and showed sectoring phenotypes. Higher concentrations were too inhibitory for growth. In practically all cases, when 'abnormals' were replated, aneuploids of various types were recovered. Most aneuploids were hyperdiploid, including a fraction of simple trisomics, and some were even polyploid types. All showed chromosomal-type segregation in diploid sectors, often segregating for genetic markers of many different chromosomes. Mitotic crossing-over was slightly increased, but probably not induced, since an equally high spontaneous frequency was observed among replated aneuploid types. To eliminate conclusively the possibility that chromosome breakage was the primary effect of ethanol, which might indirectly produce aneuploid-like types, haploid conidia were also treated. Up to 8% abnormals, mainly hyperhaploids, were obtained (at about 20-50% survival). When diploid and haploid strains were treated identically with ethanol in liquid media after a few hours of pregermination, frequencies of abnormals were similar for short treatments, but higher in diploid strains for longer ones (10-20% aneuploids). The abnormal colonies from the haploid strain were replated and visually identified: about 2/3 were typical n + 1 hyperhaploids, and most others were n + 2 or 3 or more, including a few 2n + 1 trisomics. It is concluded that as a primary effect, alcohol interferes with, and probably arrests, mitotic segregation, and causes chromosome missegregation and nondisjunction. In most cases, the resulting nuclei contain increased numbers of chromosomes and show high frequencies of chromosome loss.

Mitotic aneuploidy induced by sodium deoxycholate in Aspergillus nidulans

Sodium deoxycholate is shown to induce aneuploidy in a heterozygous diploid strain of Aspergillus nidulans. It is suggested that this is the result of interference with the normal functioning of the mitotic apparatus through disruption of the nuclear membrane. This effect limits the value of sodium deoxycholate as a paramorphogenic agent in the estimation of the genotoxic effects of environmental and genetic factors.