Effects of Nitrobenzenes on DNA Damage in Germ Cells of Rats1

The single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) technique was used to detect DNA damage in germ cells of rats, which was induced by five tested nitroaromatic compounds. Mixed cultures of Sertoli and gems cells were prepared from the rats testis and their responses to m-dinitrobenzene(m-DNB), 2,4-dinitrotoluene(2,4-DNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene(2,6-DNT), 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT) and 2,4-dinitroaniline(2,4-DNAn) were studied. The results show that all the five chemicals have a reproductive toxicity. Each dose group and the control group were significantly different (P <0.01). All of them can lead to the damage to DNA in the germ cells of kunming male rats in the definite range of concentration (m-DNB: 0.04-25 μmol/L; 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT and 4-NT: 0.032-500 μmol/L; 2,4-DNAn: 0.8-20 μmol/L). When the concentration increases, the damage rate will become higher, which shows an evident logarithm dose-effect relationship.