Influence of cysteine on mechlorethamine - induced chromosomal aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes

The aim of the present paper was to find out by in vitro chromosomal aberration test using human lymphocytes whether cysteine has anticlastogenic properties towards a well-known mutagen - mechlorethamine. The lymphocytes tested were obtained from three healthy donors. Two doses of cysteine (1.0 and 2.0 μg/ml) and three doses of mechlorethamine (0.1,0.2 and 0.3 μg m⁻¹) were tested. It was found that cysteine had anticlastogenic properties and that it reduced the number of metaphases with chromosomal aberrations induced by mechlorethamine.