Induction of chromosome damage by aniline and its C-hydroxylated metabolites in the root cells of Vicia faba.

The induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosome aberrations (CAs) by aniline hydrochloride (AH) and its C-hydroxylated metabolites, o-, m- and p-aminophenol, in the root cells of Vicia faba was examined. AH induced CAs, but not SCEs. All the C-hydroxylated metabolites of aniline induced both SCEs and CAs. However, the treatment of cells with these metabolites at concentrations that did not cause significant increases in CAs resulted in significant increases in SCEs. These results seem to suggest that the substance that induced CAs in root cells treated with AH was not the C-hydroxylated metabolites of aniline.