Cultured peripheral lymphocytes: one biologic indicator of potential drug hazard
Hashem, N.; Shawki, R.
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 5(2): 155-163
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0309-3913 PMID: 829721 Document Number: 101468
Peripheral human lymphocytes (Pls) of 3 categories of patients under therapy with 4 drugs, niridazole and tartar emetic for schistosomiasis, diphenylhydantoin for grand mal epilepsy and isoniazid for pulmonary and abdominal tuberculosis, were cultured in vitro with and without phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. The 4 drugs revealed a significant incidence of variable degrees of nucleochromosomal pathology under the effect of PHA. Micronuclei, nuclear fragmentation and reduced Pls mitotic response to PHA were specifically notable with tartar emetic. Multinucleation, polyploidy and different grades of chromosome fragility were more conspicuous with niridazole and diphenylhydantoin and to a lesser degree with isoniazid. Niridazole was the only drug that effected blastogenesis and binucleation of Pls in absence of PHA and induced high incidence of giant polynucleated cells on stimulation with PHA. Those niridazole induced effects are reported for the first time. In view of the hazards of such in vitro nucleochromosomal findings which might serve as biologic indicators of an oncogenic, teratogenic or mutagenic potential of those drugs, any extrapolation as to their in vitro significance should be critically evaluated.