Analysis of chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes exposed in vitro to hydergine ®

Abstract

Hydergine ® (dihydroergotoxine mesylate, Sandoz) was examined for its capability to induce chromosome damage and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in human lymphocytes in vitro. For the chromosome-aberration study, cultures set up from 6 individuals were divided into 5 groups: negative control, positive control (caffeine, 0.5 mg/ml), and Hydergine ® (0.1, 0.25 and μg/ml). For the SCE examination, which used 8 individuals, 4 cultures were made per person in the following way: negative control, positive control (mitomycin C, 0.1 μg/ml), and Hydergine ® (0.1 and 0.5 μg/ml). Lymphocytes were cultivated for 72h, being exposed to the respective treatments during the final 24 h. The results showed that Hydergine ® induced no chromosome damage in human lymphocytes in vitro.