Genotoxicity and transmission electron microscopy studies of molybdocene dichloride

The cytotoxic effects of molybdocene dichloride (Cp2MoCl2) were investigated in V79 Chinese hamster lung cells using the micronucleus assay. Cp2MoCl2 produced significant genotoxic damage whereby 0.2 micronuclei/1000 binucleated cells were induced per μM of Cp2MoCl2. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of thin-sectioned cells treated with Cp2MoCl2 (300 μM) showed distinct morphological alterations of the nuclei, condensation of chromatin, and a high incidence of polynucleated cells. Implications for the mechanism of antitumor action of molybdocene dichloride are discussed.