Mutagenicity studies with 5-thio-D-glucose

Abstract

Cytogenetic studies in bone marrow cells and dividing spermatocytes I in male mice and the sex-linked recessive lethal gene test in Drosophila melanogaster were initiated to evaluate the mutagenic potential of 5-thio-D-glucose, a reversible male contraceptive in some mammals. The compound was administered by oral intubation to mice at 40 or 60 mg/kg for various time periods. Oregon-R D. melanogaster males were fed medium containing 600 or 1200 ppm of the substance for 72 hours and mated with virgin Muller-5 females to test for gene mutation. The compound did not enhance structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations or elevate sex-linked recessive lethals in D. melanogaster. It is concluded that under the conditions of the present study 5-thio is a nonmutagenic male antifertility agent.