Effects of Anticancer Drug Vincristine on induction of chromosome abnormalities in bone marrow cells of male Balb/c mice Using Micronucleus Assay

Vinca alkaloids, the dimeric Catharanthus roseus alkaloids, are a family of anti-mitotic drugs which used in cancer chemotherapy against a variety of hematological and solid tumors. These compounds interact with tubulin subunits and prevent microtubule assembly, inducing abnormal chromosome segregation in dividing cells and leading to aneuploidy. The aim of this study was to investigate Vincristine (VCR), the most important and naturally produced (from vacuoles) member of Vinca alkaloids family, genotoxicity effects on bone marrow cells in vivo in Balb/c mice. The research was performed by treating Balb/c mice with different doses of intraperitoneally administrated Vincristine. After 24 h, animals were killed to investigate genotoxicity and chromosomal abnormality induction in their bone marrow cells using micronucleus assay. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA using PASW18 software. Vincristine significantly induced micronucleus formation (p<0.05) at all doses in polychromatic erythrocytes. It induced genotoxicity in mice bone marrow and caused a detectable mitotic damage. Consequently, our finding showed that Vincristine has a high ability to induce micronucleus formation in normal mice bone marrow. The present research could be used in researches and investigations on mechanism of chromosomal abnormality formation and carcinogenesis.