The protective role of thiola and soybean seeds against the genotoxicity induced by potassium dichromate in mice

The genotoxic potential of potassium dichromate (K 2Cr 2O 7) was evaluated in vivo in mice using different mutagenic end points. Chromosomal aberrations in bone-marrow and spermatocytes as well as sperm abnormalities in the tested mice were determined. The doses used were 3, 6, 12 mg K 2Cr 2O 7 kg −1 body weight which correspond to 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 the experimental LD 50, respectively. The protective roles of i.p. injection with thiola (a synthetic sulfhydryl compound) at 20 mg kg −1 body weight and feeding treatment with soybean seeds (30% of the diet) were also studied. For chromosomal aberration analysis, subacute treatment for a period of 3 weeks were performed. All the tested doses of K 2Cr 2O 7 induced a statistically significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal aberrations in both somatic and germ cells with dose and time relationships. The percentage of the induced chromosomal aberrations was significantly minimized in all groups of mice i.p. treated with thiola or fed soybean seeds during the period of treatment. Potassium dichromate also induced a significant increase ( P