Detection of chromosome loss and gain induced by griseofulvin, estramustine, and vanadate in binucleated lymphocytes using FISH analysis

Cytochalasin B‐blocked binucleated human lymphocytes from a healthy male donor were used to detect micronucleus induction and other aneuploidy events (chromosome loss and gain) after treatment with griseofulvin (GF), estramustine (EM), and sodium orthovanadate (Na3VO4). A two‐color FISH was performed by using centromeric probes for chromosome 2 (FITC labeled) and the X chromosome (TRITC labeled) to measure chromosome loss and gain events in binucleated cells. GF induced mainly aneuploid binucleates involving the X chromosome, but this was not associated with preferential loss of one of the two chromosomes. EM preferentially induced aneuploidy of chromosome 2, and Na3VO4 of the X chromosome. Our results indicate that chromosome malsegregation events (chromosome loss and/or gain) are probably not randomly induced, suggesting that different mechanisms leading to aneuploidy may be either chromosome‐dependent or compound‐ and dose‐ related. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 34:64–68, 1999 © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.