Modulatory Effect of Vitamin C on Genotoxic Effect of Endosulfan in Developing Albino Rats

The genotoxic effect of endosulfan and the modulatory effect of vitamin C in growing albino rats were stu-died by bone marrow micronucleus assay. Seven days old male Wistar rats were treated with 3, 6, 9, 12 mg/kg Endosulfan orally (10 pups/group), for up to 60 days, at intervals of 24h. For 2 more groups (n=10/group), Endosulfan 9 mg/kg and 12 mg/kg was administered along with vitamin C (20 mg/kg). One more group of rats were treated with cyclophosphamide as positive control. The genotoxic effect was stu-died by bone marrow micronuclei assay. There was an increase in micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) and a decrease in PCE and P/N ra-tio in endosulfan treated rats. The effect was similar to the standard mutagen cyclophosphamide. In rats treated with vitamin C and endosulfan, there was an increase in PCE and P/N ratio and decrease in micronuclei in PCE and NCE. This could be due to the antimutagenic effect of vita-min C.